The UN has declared that eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions is the greatest global challenge ahead and pledges that no one will be left behind on the journey towards fulfilling the Agenda 2030 and reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. One of the goals is to reduce inequality both within and among countries in order to combat discrimination in all its forms. Discrimination is a violation of human rights and makes it even more difficult for marginalized people to move out of extreme poverty. Numerous of anti-discrimination policies and programmes globally strive to make embedded inequalities visible and enforce accountability mechanisms.
Sweden has long been a strong supporter of rights-based approaches, not least in its development cooperation. In the new policy framework for Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian aid the principles of equal worth of human beings and of non-discrimination are fundamental to the protection of human rights. Consequently, they should permeate Swedish development cooperation.
In their new EBA-report “Do Anti-Discrimination Measures Reduce Poverty Among Marginalised Social Groups? “ Rachel Marcus, Anna Mdee and Ellen Page from the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network, put focus on the impacts of political reservations, measures to boost educational opportunities and outcomes, and measures to enhance labour market outcomes.
The report is based on a systematic review of the current knowledgebase. The seminar will open up for a discussion on anti-discrimination measures as part of the overriding goal of poverty reduction. What can we learn from large scale anti-discrimination programmes and policies from around the world when implementing a rights-based approach to reach the poorest and most marginalized people?
Program
14.00 Welcome address
Julia Schalk, EBA
14.10 Evaluating Anti-Discrimination measures
Andrew Shepard, Director, CPAN
Do Anti-Discrimination Measures Reduce Poverty Among Marginalised Groups?
Rachel Marcus, Researcher, CPAN
14.40 Comments and reflections
Pär Zetterberg, Associate Professor, Uppsala University
Panel discussion
Paula Engwall, Senior Policy Specialist Education, Sida
Wilson De los Reyes Aragon, Senior Legal Advisor, RFSU
15.55 Concluding remarks