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Reposted by Sylvain Aubry

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 1d

I am reading reports that the German coalition has agreed the main parts of its welfare "reform" package. Details still emerging.

This shift toward a more punitive logic and harsher sanctions will come at the cost of human rights.

I explain more in this recent piece.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

Rights Should Guide Welfare ‘Reform’ Debate in Germany

The partners in Germany’s governing Christian Democrat-Social Democrat coalition have been sparring over the contents of a planned replacement of the Citizen’s Income social security benefit, with a “...

www.hrw.org

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Reposted by Sylvain Aubry

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 7d

Learn more about the UK Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Network here. It may be relevant to your work and something for you or your organization to join.

Just Fair @justfairuk.bsky.social · 7d

🌱 Poverty is rising, rights are under pressure, but change is possible when we act together.

The UK ESCR Network brings 190+ members fighting for housing, health, food, and social security as rights.

Read our new blog about why you should join!

justfair.org.uk/stronger-tog...

Stronger together: how the UK ESCR Network drives change | Just Fair

Across the UK, poverty is rising, inequality deepening, and rights protections are under pressure. If you’re committed to turning this around, not just in principle but in practice, the UK Economic, S...

justfair.org.uk

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Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 8d

One to watch for the ESCR nerds out there.

The first complaint from Germany to the UN CESCR, since the country relatively recently (Apr 2023) accepted the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR.

Focused on withdrawal of benefits from some asylum-seekers.

⬇️

Freiheitsrechte.org - GFF @freiheitsrechte.org · 8d

Keine Sozialleistungen für Geflüchtete? Wir reichen die erste Beschwerde aus Deutschland beim UN-Sozialpaktausschuss ein: Der Beschwerdeführer bekommt keine Leistungen mehr & ist obdachlos. Wir fordern schnelle Hilfe & die Abschaffung des Leistungsausschlusses: freiheitsrechte.org/existenziell...

Lena Frerichs, Juristin bei der GFF: „Jeder Mensch hat das Recht auf ein Dach über dem Kopf und ein Leben ohne Hunger – unabhängig vom Aufenthaltsstatus. Deutschland verletzt dieses soziale Menschenrecht. Dagegen haben wir die erste Beschwerde bei den Vereinten Nationen eingereicht.“

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Lou Charbonneau @loucharb.bsky.social · 16d

🚨🧵 @hrw.org on Trump's #UNGA80 speech: -- He made too many false claims about world affairs to seriously address them. What is serious is Trump’s obvious lack of respect for international organizations that promote human rights, like the UN, which the US played a central role in creating. 1/x

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Bill Frelick @billfrelick.bsky.social · Aug 12

My thoughts: the US Congress shld question why women shld have to shoehorn their claims into a narrow understanding of membership of a particular social group & thereby have less consistent or predictable protection than racial, religious, nationality & political groups. www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

US Should Fix the Gender Gap in Refugee Protection

In a recent decision denying asylum to a Salvadoran woman being stalked by gang members, the Board of Immigration Appeals — the highest administrative body for interpreting U.S. immigration law — foun...

www.hrw.org

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Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · Aug 12

Submission from @hrw.org to UN CESCR on Germany, covering:
- ESC rights protections
- international cooperation on taxation
- Supply Chains Due Diligence Act
- the social security system
- low-wage work
- the gender pay and pension gaps
- the right to cultural artefacts
www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...

Human Rights Watch Submission to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Germany: List of Issues 78th Session

We write in advance of the 78th Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) regarding its preparation and adoption of a list of issues in advance of the full review of Ger...

www.hrw.org

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Reposted by Sylvain Aubry

Center for Economic and Social Rights @cesr.bsky.social · Jul 14

The global rules of finance must serve human rights—not undermine them.

🎥 Watch highlights from our joint side event at #FfD4
youtube.com/watch?v=SoLb...

With @mariaronbalsera.bsky.social, @liznelson13.bsky.social, @sylvainaubry.bsky.social & more

Thank you @taxjustice.net for the video!

Rights-Based Development Finance: A post-Seville agenda

YouTube video by Tax Justice Network

youtube.com

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Reposted by Sylvain Aubry

Heather Barr @heatherbarr.bsky.social · Jul 14

Excited to share this new piece on why @hrw.org is calling for gender apartheid to be recognized as a crime under international law. This comes after long & careful discussion w/many colleagues about if there is need for such a law and any potential downsides. www.justsecurity.org/116780/gende...

Gender Apartheid Should Be an International Crime

All States should ensure the inclusion of gender apartheid in international law, including in the draft crimes against humanity treaty.

www.justsecurity.org

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Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · Jul 10

Here's @pollardtom.bsky.social from @neweconomics.bsky.social busting myths and undoing mischievous "reporting" about social security, disability, illness, and minimum wage... making crucial points that many people on minimum wage also receive Universal Credit, and many who work can & do receive PIP

Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · Jul 10

Why shouldn't someone assessed by DWP as too unwell to work & facing significant extra costs due to disabilities & poor health receive state support at least around the rate of a minimum wage salary?

I spoke to Ian Collins on TalkTV earlier about (misleading) reports today on this subject

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Reposted by Sylvain Aubry

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · Jul 9

As the #UCBill (without PIP) returns to UK Parliament for its third (and final?) reading, my post for @hrw.org

www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...

The watered-down version of the Bill will still negatively affect many with disabilities and long term health conditions. The government should scrap it.

Revised UK Social Security Bill Still Harms Rights

The UK government’s draft law to cut spending on disability-related social security triggered major opposition from within the ruling party, forcing the government to roll back some of the legislation...

www.hrw.org

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Reposted by Sylvain Aubry

350 France @350france.bsky.social · Jul 2

📣 TRIBUNE- Alors que les dirigeants mondiaux sont réunis à Séville sous une chaleur écrasante, + de 3️⃣0️⃣ organisations de la société civile dont @350.org appellent à changer le système économique mondial.

Finis les petits pas. La 🇫🇷 doit se tenir du côté des peuples luttant pour leur futur.
#FFD4 👇

Libération @liberation.fr · Jul 2

La 4ᵉ Conférence des Nations unies sur le financement du développement est une occasion unique d’engager de vraies réformes contre l’appauvrissement continu des pays du Sud

La tribune d'un collectif d’ONG dont Action contre la faim, Oxfam France ou le Réseau action climat 👇

Le sommet de Séville doit changer le système économique mondial

www.liberation.fr

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Human Rights Watch en français @hrw-fr.hrw.org · Jul 4

L'avenir de la finance est en train de se décider et cet avenir doit donner la priorité aux droits humains.

Human Rights Watch participe à la Conférence internationale sur le financement du développement à Séville, en Espagne.

@mattcconnell.bsky.social‬ nous explique les enjeux ⤵

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Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 3

"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu" 🍽️.

Why is #FFD4 important for human rights - and how can human rights contribute to reshaping global economic rules to make it fairer?

Our very own @mcconnell_m makes it very clear just 1️⃣ minute below.

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Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 3

Global tax loopholes enable multinationals to funnel profits into tax havens, draining trillions from government funds and undermining human rights. But guess what? The Trump administration just greased the wheels. See @hrw's reaction: www.hrw.org/news/2025/0... 🌍💸🔍

How Trump Weaponized the US Budget Bill Overseas

The Trump administration has weaponized its bill to benefit the wealthiest US corporations by undermining global efforts to tax businesses fairly.

www.hrw.org

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Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 3

Tax reform gaining steam at #FF4, powerful internventions of @SurRuiz, @aminatatoureklk, @mariomarcelc... and @JosephEStiglitz hits the nail on the head: "No Nobel Prize needed to see why taxing the rich is crucial for maintaining our global social contract in civil societies."

Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 3

Though funding for education and health care have been proven to be the most important to right and equity, "There is this assumption that there is not enough money to fund public services" discuss @72rt and @kchalkidou 📚💰

#FfD4 🌍

Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 3

While the call for taxing the super-rich gains traction, it's still not a reality—even in nations eager for change. Why? Powerful lobbying, corporate influence, and a flood of misinformation stand in the way. 💰💼🛑

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Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 3

Why is it so hard to implement truly progressive taxes, especially in Global South countries like Kenya & Brazil? 🤔

"The political class is the elite class—and this is not just a developing country issue; it's everywhere in the world," says @attiyawaris. 👀

#FfD4

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Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 3

Public services at #FFD4! A mix of expert and government officials dive into the big question: financing—but for what?

The answer is clear: to uphold human rights and close the inequality gap, funds must flow into quality public services like healthcare and education. 💼🏥📚

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Reposted by Sylvain Aubry

Nathalye Cotrino @nathalyeco.bsky.social · Jul 2

🇭🇹 In recent months, criminal groups have expanded beyond Haiti’s capital to cities like Petite Rivière in Artibonite. In late April, a 64-year-old street vendor and mother of seven fled her home after an attack.

Now, she and her children live in poverty. This is her story:

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Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · Jul 1

1/15 🧵

Today, the UK government will ask MPs to railroad through social security legislation that makes cuts to disability-related benefits to the next stage.

@hrw.org joins 80+ other orgs asking MPs to reject the UCPIP Bill. It is bad news for human rights.

www.ucpipbill.co.uk/wp-content/u...

Joint civil society statement on the UC & PIP Bill
Monday 30th June 2025
We are coming together as organisations committed to fighting poverty,
providing advice, and supporting and championing the rights of disabled
people, their families, and carers. We stand firmly with disabled people and
their organisations in calling for the UK government to withdraw the UC & PIP
Bill and to undertake genuine dialogue with disabled people to shape
reforms centred on the rights and dignity that all disabled people need and
deserve.
At a time when the share of GDP spent on working-age social security has
remained stable for the last ten years, cutting the incomes of disabled people
is a political choice. There is time for the government to pursue alternatives.
If this Bill is voted through, then by 2030 it will have cut PIP for more than
400,000 disabled people and Universal Credit for more than 700,000 people
who are disabled or have a long-term health condition. These numbers will
only increase in the years to follow.

This Bill has also been brought before parliament:
• Without consultation with disabled people
• Without any assessment of its impact on health and employment
outcomes
• Before the planned review of the PIP assessment has properly begun
its work
• Without knowing how the outcome of the PIP review may affect these
reforms
The changes announced last week and the compressed timetable for scrutiny
mean that MPs will only have a single day to debate or amend the new
provisions. There is too much at stake for disabled people for this Bill to be
rushed through without the opportunity for meaningful challenge or
scrutiny. We urge all MPs to vote against this Bill at Second Reading.

Signatories
Acts 435
Action for Children
Amnesty International
British Association of Social
Workers
Camphill Village Trust
Centre for Mental Health
Child Poverty Action Group
Children & Young People's Mental
Health Coalition
Children First
Citizens Advice
Community Money Advice
Crisis
Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Debt Justice
Diabetes UK
Disability Benefits Consortium
Disability Law Service
Disabled People Against Cuts
End Child Poverty Coalition
Endometriosis UK
Engender
Fuel Poverty Action
Home Start
Human Rights Watch
Huntington's Disease Association
Imagine Act and Succeed
In Kind Direct
Independent Age
Independent Food Aid Network
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Kidney Care
Learning Disability Allies
Leonard Cheshire
ME Foggy Dog
Mental Health Foundation
Mental Health UK
Mind
Money and Mental Health Policy
Institute
MS Society
National Autistic Society
National Children's Bureau
National Rheumatoid Arthritis
Society
National Survivor User Network
Neuroendocrine Cancer UK
New Economics Foundation
Oxfam
Parkinson's UK
Quaker Social Action
Rethink Mental Illness
Royal National Institute of Blind
People
Royal National Institute of Deaf
People
SeeAbility
Scope
Sense
Shelter
Sisters of Frida
St Mungo's
Stripy Lightbulb CIC
The Children's Society
The Food Foundation
The Poverty Alliance
The Salvation Army
Trussell
Turn2Us
Turning Point
Versus Arthritis
Voluntary Organisations Disability
Group
We Care Campaign
Whizz Kidz
Women's Budget Group
Young Lives vs Cancer
Z2K
4 in 10
Black Country Foodbank
Citizens Advice Scotland
Close the Gap
Food Plymouth
Hartlepool Foodbank
Includem
North East Child Poverty
Commission
One Parent Families Scotland
Parenting Across Scotland
Scottish Women's Budget Group
Shelter Scotland
Stay Safe East
The Scottish Pantry Network

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Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 1

With the "Big Beautiful Bill," the US government is on a mission to dismantle the remnants of justice, solidarity, and rights of the majority, both at home and abroad. This isn't just policy—it's an ideological attack.

Stand up for your rights.

#FFD4

www.hrw.org/news/2025/0...

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Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jul 1

Impressive panel at #FFD4 discussing financial aid in the context of the right to development - arguing, in very practical terms, to rethink public development work to align with obligations of international cooperation, equity, participation, etc.

Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jun 30

Important for @VuyiswaRamokgop to recall that funding for social security should be a collective effort, that requires cooperation to raise revenues… just short for South Africa to mention the #UNTaxCovention, also absent from the G20 priorities.

Sylvain Aubry @sylvainaubry.bsky.social · Jun 30

« 2% of GDP for social security is a floor, not a ceiling », says @GilbertFHoungbo at #FFD4. Great to recall, but it remains a very low floor, when it’ll take 50 years for states to achieve universal coverage, often at a low rate, whereas there is so much wealth in the world.

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