UN Report: US Poverty a Human Rights Violation

From the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights in Geneva:

"Poverty is not only deprivation of economic or material resources, but a violation of human rights, too. . .No social phenomenon is as comprehensive in its assault on human rights as poverty. . .Poverty erodes or nullifies economic and social rights such as the right to health, adequate housing, food, safe water, and the right to education."


". . . the [limited] reach of the assistance programs and social discrimination [in the United States] has aggravated the problems in many situations, resulting in poverty clearly seen as a violation of human rights," Dr. Arjun Sengupta stated in his official report to the OHCHR. This was after an extensive fact finding visit to the United States last month. "If the United States government designed and implemented the policies according to human rights standards much of the problem of poverty could be resolved," he added.

Dr. Sengupta, a top expert on human rights and extreme poverty of the OHCHR, also said, "The case of the United States was particularly interesting as it presented an apparent paradox: as the wealthiest country on Earth, with higher per capita income levels than any other country, the United States has also had one of the highest incidences of poverty among the rich industrialized nations,".

The official findings, released in his OHCHR report on poverty in the United States:

*12 percent of the United States population--or about 37 million people--lived in poverty in 2004, with nearly 16 percent--or about 46 million--having no health insurance.

*38 million people, including 14 million children, are threatened by lack of food.

*Ethnic minorities are suffering more from extreme poverty than white Americans. Compared to one in ten Whites, nearly one in four Blacks and more than one out of every five Latinos are extremely poor in the United States.

*Incidence of poverty, including food insecurity and homelessness, has been on the rise during the Bush administration.

*High costs of healthcare, inadequate access to quality education and vocational training, low wages, limited protection of tenants, and lack of low-cost housing are major factors posing "serious obstacles" to people struggling to get out of poverty.*

-Edited from the 11/15/05 press release of the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.

*This report corresponds beautifully with the recent report of the Census Bureau, both ignored by Republican Washington and it's lapdog press.

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--THE UNITED STATES IS A FIRST WORLD COUNTRY WELL ON IT'S WAY TO THIRD WORLD STATUS (WE DO LOVE OUR BANANAS, DON'T WE?). . .SAD, SAD, SAD.

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