On Friday, June 22nd, 2018, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston and CESR, ATD Fourth World and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will present a panel on "Social Protection and Austerity: The Role for the IMF and Human Rights" at the 38th session of the Human Rights Council (June 18th-July 6th, 2018) in Geneva.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the single most influential international actor, not only in relation to fiscal policy but also to social protection, even if the IMF and its critics would prefer this were not the case. Many governments around the world have followed the IMF’s prescription of fiscal consolidation as a remedial measure to address growing public deficits, without safeguarding necessary fiscal space to guarantee basic social protection floors.
In this era of austerity, what is the role of the IMF in social protection? What do human rights have to add to the global debate on austerity and social protection? How can human rights mechanisms and NGOs influence the development of a strategic framework on social protection by the IMF?
This panel will address those critical questions about austerity and social protection, as well as the role of the IMF, UN actors, human rights mechanisms and civil society in promoting the right to social protection.
Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, will moderate and panelists include:
• Miriam Brett, International Development Finance Project Manager, Bretton Woods Project
• Jeffrey Franks, Director, IMF Europe Office
• Alexander Kentikelenis, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford
• Nicholas Lusiani, Director, Human Rights in Economic Policy Program, Center for Economic and Social Rights (participation via Skype)
• Isabel Ortiz, Director of Social Protection, International Labour Organization
See full details for the event below.
