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LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Poverty-based discrimination - Does International Human Rights Law care?

Eriksson, Julia LU (2019) JURM02 20201
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
I en värld där inget tycks kunna stoppa de växande ekonomiska klyfterna ifrågasätts även relevansen av internationella regleringar av mänskliga rättigheter. Trots att jämlikhet och icke-diskriminering utgör grunden för mänskliga rättigheter så verkar dessa regelverk oförmögna att adressera ekonomiskt betonad ojämlikhet. Gör diskrimineringsförbud och garantier om jämlikhet egentligen någon skillnad för människor som lever i fattigdom?

Jämlikhet och icke-diskriminering utgör grunden för mänskliga rättigheter. Trots detta finns det inte direkt någon konsensus kring vad dessa garantier egentligen innebär. Länge var icke-diskriminering begränsat till ett förbud för stater att behandla människor annorlunda på vissa diskrimineringsgrunder.... (More)
I en värld där inget tycks kunna stoppa de växande ekonomiska klyfterna ifrågasätts även relevansen av internationella regleringar av mänskliga rättigheter. Trots att jämlikhet och icke-diskriminering utgör grunden för mänskliga rättigheter så verkar dessa regelverk oförmögna att adressera ekonomiskt betonad ojämlikhet. Gör diskrimineringsförbud och garantier om jämlikhet egentligen någon skillnad för människor som lever i fattigdom?

Jämlikhet och icke-diskriminering utgör grunden för mänskliga rättigheter. Trots detta finns det inte direkt någon konsensus kring vad dessa garantier egentligen innebär. Länge var icke-diskriminering begränsat till ett förbud för stater att behandla människor annorlunda på vissa diskrimineringsgrunder. Detta har dock förändrats och koncept så som indirekt diskriminering och positiv särbehandling har vidgat förståelsen av vad jämlikhet egentligen är. Till följd av detta har även fokus skiftat från endast negativa skyldigheter för stater att avstå från att behandla individer olika till skyldigheter att aktivt agera för att förhindra diskriminering även när sådan uppkommer till följd av strukturell ojämlikhet. Formell jämlikhet är inte längre tillräckligt utan jämlikhet måste även uppnås i praktiken, något som gjort att
fattigdom har fått erkännande som en av de tydligaste effekterna av diskriminering.

Fattigdom är dock inte bara en effekt av diskriminering. I många situationer är det just det faktum att en individ uppfattas som fattig som genererar diskriminering. Fattigdom är nämligen, likt andra diskrimineringsgrunder, nära kopplat till stigma, fördomar och negativa stereotyper. Sådana fördomar leder till diskriminering på samma sätt som rasism, homofobi och sexism. Trots detta benämns de rättighetskränkningar som människor som lever i fattigdom upplever sällan i dessa termer.

Genom historien har nya diskrimineringsgrunder kontinuerligt vunnit erkännande. Diskriminering på grund av sexuell läggning, sexuell identitet och funktionsvariationer är några sådana exempel. Skulle fattigdom på ett liknande sätt kunna erkännas som en grund på vilken diskriminering är förbjuden? Vad skulle ett sådant förbud innebära i det samhälle baserat på en marknadsekonomi där ekonomiska tillgångar är en helt grundläggande faktor i vilka möjligheter vi har? (Less)
Abstract
In a world where the growth of economic inequalities does not seem to slow down the relevance of International Human Rights Law (IHRL) is questioned. Equality and non-discrimination are core principles of IHRL, but what do they have to offer people living in poverty?

In spite of the centrality of equality and non-discrimination to IHRL the meaning of these concepts is contested. The question ”equality of what?” remains unanswered. However, a tendency to move from a formal to a substantive understanding of equality can be identified in relation to IHRL. This builds on the understanding that equality does not only require the state to refrain from treating people differently because of their sex, ethnicity, religion or other ground for... (More)
In a world where the growth of economic inequalities does not seem to slow down the relevance of International Human Rights Law (IHRL) is questioned. Equality and non-discrimination are core principles of IHRL, but what do they have to offer people living in poverty?

In spite of the centrality of equality and non-discrimination to IHRL the meaning of these concepts is contested. The question ”equality of what?” remains unanswered. However, a tendency to move from a formal to a substantive understanding of equality can be identified in relation to IHRL. This builds on the understanding that equality does not only require the state to refrain from treating people differently because of their sex, ethnicity, religion or other ground for discrimination. Rather, some situations actually require that individuals be treated differently for discrimination to be avoided. Moreover, discriminatory structures require the state to take positive measures to accommodate for difference beyond the majority norm but also to take action to correct de facto inequality. This development brings with it an enhanced potential for IHRL to address the ”real” inequalities experienced by individuals.

This development has lead poverty to be recognized as an effect of discrimination. However, poverty is more than an effect of discrimination, it is also a source of discrimination. Poverty is connected to prejudice, negative stereotyping and stigma. This ”povertyism” can be compared to racism, homophobia and sexism and is in a similar way often the source of discrimination.

The grounds for discrimination in IHRL are not static. The dynamic nature of IHRL has allowed it to recognize ”new” grounds for discrimination such as sexual orientation, sexual identity and disability. Can a similar development take place in relation to discrimination against people living in poverty? What would such prohibition entail in a society where the rationale of the market economy makes financial resources a determining factor for opportunities and outcome of individuals? (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Eriksson, Julia LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20201
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
public international law, discrimination, equality, poverty, human rights, international human rights law, non-discrimination, substantive equality, socioeconomic status, indirect discrimination, affirmative action, poverty-based discrimination, discrimination grounds, status-based discrimination, suspect grounds, inequality, de facto equality
language
English
id
9006619
date added to LUP
2020-04-02 12:07:45
date last changed
2020-04-02 12:07:45
@misc{9006619,
  abstract     = {{In a world where the growth of economic inequalities does not seem to slow down the relevance of International Human Rights Law (IHRL) is questioned. Equality and non-discrimination are core principles of IHRL, but what do they have to offer people living in poverty? 

In spite of the centrality of equality and non-discrimination to IHRL the meaning of these concepts is contested. The question ”equality of what?” remains unanswered. However, a tendency to move from a formal to a substantive understanding of equality can be identified in relation to IHRL. This builds on the understanding that equality does not only require the state to refrain from treating people differently because of their sex, ethnicity, religion or other ground for discrimination. Rather, some situations actually require that individuals be treated differently for discrimination to be avoided. Moreover, discriminatory structures require the state to take positive measures to accommodate for difference beyond the majority norm but also to take action to correct de facto inequality. This development brings with it an enhanced potential for IHRL to address the ”real” inequalities experienced by individuals. 

This development has lead poverty to be recognized as an effect of discrimination. However, poverty is more than an effect of discrimination, it is also a source of discrimination. Poverty is connected to prejudice, negative stereotyping and stigma. This ”povertyism” can be compared to racism, homophobia and sexism and is in a similar way often the source of discrimination. 

The grounds for discrimination in IHRL are not static. The dynamic nature of IHRL has allowed it to recognize ”new” grounds for discrimination such as sexual orientation, sexual identity and disability. Can a similar development take place in relation to discrimination against people living in poverty? What would such prohibition entail in a society where the rationale of the market economy makes financial resources a determining factor for opportunities and outcome of individuals?}},
  author       = {{Eriksson, Julia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Poverty-based discrimination - Does International Human Rights Law care?}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}