Human Rights Watch welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights’ thematic report on “Welfare and Control: The Paternalism of Support,” shedding light on some of the various forms of monitoring and control that people in poverty are subjected to, especially those receiving social security. This report responds to questions about three issues raised in the call for inputs: child protection services, conditionalities associated with cash transfers, and duty to accept “suitable” work. It also highlights how many social security systems that primarily rely on poverty targeting, which limits benefits to the poorest members of society, use surveillance and extensive data collection.
Drawing on Human Rights Watch research conducted in Germany, Jordan, Mauritius, Nepal, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and Australia, this submission illustrates how government policies can reinforce stigma against social security recipients. It also presents examples of positive measures that mitigate these harms while upholding the right to social security.
To read the full article: click here
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.