AUSTERITY MEASURES IN GREECE UNDERMINING HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYS UN INDEPENDENT EXPERT

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 1 May 2013 15:00:01 -0400
Subject: AUSTERITY MEASURES IN GREECE UNDERMINING HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYS
UN INDEPENDENT EXPERT
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

AUSTERITY MEASURES IN GREECE UNDERMINING HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYS UN
INDEPENDENT EXPERT
New York, May 1 2013 3:00PM
Greece and its international bailout lenders must adopt a human
rights-based approach to economic reform, a United Nations expert
reiterated today, warning that some austerity measures are undermining
people's access to jobs, health, water and energy.

"More than 10 per cent of the population in Greece now lives in
extreme poverty, and unemployment amongst youth has reached an
unprecedented rate of 59.3 per cent," the UN independent expert on
foreign debt and human rights, Cephas Lumina, said in a
<"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13281&LangID=E">news
release issues at the end of his week-long mission to the country.

In order to avoid default, Greece agreed in 2010 with the European
Commission, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary
Fund to implement radical cuts in Government expenditure in return for
a bailout loan, he said. Greece also adopted a structural reform
programme aimed at reducing the country's fiscal deficit and returning
the economy to growth.

Yet, despite the stringent austerity measures, the Greek economy has
shrunk by about 25 per cent and continues in recession. The austerity
programme, he said in the news release, was being implemented in the
context of a social protection system ill-equipped to absorb the shock
of unemployment, salary cuts and tax increases.

Access to essential public services is likely to become even more
challenging as the Government moves forward with plans to raise its
coffers by privatizing State-owned assets, including water and energy.
Mr. Lumina urged that "privatization should be undertaken cautiously
and with sensitivity to the rights of the population."

Prolonged unemployment is also impacting people's access to health
care, particularly among the poor and marginalized groups. "Nearly one
third of the Greek population is without public health insurance," he
noted, adding that an increasing number of Greek citizens rely on free
of charge volunteer clinics.

Among the negative impacts of the economic crisis is the significant
increase in attacks on foreigners by extremist groups. The Government
has said it took significant measures to stop hate crimes, including
appointing a related Special Prosecutor in Athens, as well as some 70
anti-racist police units.

While welcoming these developments, Mr. Lumina urged authorities
needed "to send a strong message that such criminal acts would not be
tolerated," by strengthening the legal and institutional framework.

Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the UN
Human Rights Council to examine and report back, in an unpaid
capacity, on specific human rights themes. Mr. Lumina will present his
report to the Geneva-based Council in March 2014.
May 1 2013 3:00PM
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