Alicia Ely Yamin, Chair of Board, CESR. Director, Program on Health Rights of Women and Children, Fran??ois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University.
"The most significant development for ESR in my view was that amidst the continued economic recession and collapse of certain countries in Europe, we witnessed the development of civil society opposition and mobilization against the grossly inequitable economic and social arrangements in the world. The 'Occupy' movement, which began in New York but quickly spread, together with similar movements elsewhere, voice a collective frustration that the 'rules of the game' have been rigged against the 99 per cent and that democratic processes no longer afford real representation. The greatest challenge lies in organizing that shared sense of anger into a sustainable movement that can have some real impact on changing the paradigm for dealing with economic recession. The US and European governments, and multilaterals, seem determined to respond to economic crises with austerity that further crushes the poor and middle classes."
Irene Kahn, CESR Board Member. Former Secretary General, Amnesty International.
"For me the most significant development this past year has been the continued robust growth of Asian economies in contrast to Europe's gloomy situation. McKinsey has just published a report which predicts Bangladesh as the next sourcing 'hot spot' for the ready-made garment sector and places it in the list of 11 countries to watch after the BRIC countries. The biggest challenge I see next year is for Asian countries to translate their economic growth into measures to tackle growing inequalities, persistent poverty and youth unemployment."
Richard Goldstone, CESR Board Member, Co-chairperson of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association.
"The most significant development of 2011 was the international movement of ordinary citizens who are claiming their economic and social rights, from the Arab Spring to the 'Occupy' movement. The most important challenge for 2012 is to assist governments in understanding their social and economic obligations under international law and to acknowledge and implement them."
Carin Norberg, CESR Board Member, Director, The Nordic Africa Institute.
"The Arab uprising in 2011 was the ultimate and consequent action of people who had for too long been deprived their political, economic and social rights. The main challenge for 2012 must be concerned with the redistributive effects of economic policy, protecting people from the vagaries of the market and enhancing the productive potential of members of society."
Geoff Budlender, CESR Board Member, Constitutional and Human Rights Lawyer, South Africa.
"The most significant development in 2011 was the wave of popular democracy in North Africa and the Middle East, which has shown again that the courage of ordinary people can topple dictators. The challenge for 2012 will be to build broader understanding that the recurrent economic crises reflect the need for fundamental change which gives priority to the requirements of social justice."
Chris Jochnick, CESR Board Member. Director, Private Sector Engagement, Oxfam America
"2011 saw a major step forward in tackling corporate impunity for economic and social rights abuses. The UN endorsed a new set of Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights designed to prevent the adverse impacts of business activity on human rights. The ongoing ramifications of the financial crisis have laid bare the lack of accountability of private sector institutions, and have strengthened the case for financial sector regulation and a tax on financial transactions."