UN Secretary-General Warns Vulnerable and Poor Populations Disproportionately Affected by Impacts of Coronavirus
United Nations chief António Guterres said that the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are disproportionately falling “on the most vulnerable: people living in poverty, the working poor, women and children, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.”
He made the remarks while addressing the issue of poverty eradication on Tuesday, during a virtual high-level United Nations meeting. The meeting also served as the official inauguration of the Alliance for Poverty Eradication.
The Alliance for Poverty Eradication, an initiative of the President of the General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, is focused on efforts to boost the global economy in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic. In particular, the alliance will serve as a forum for Member States to raise awareness about the dangers that poverty poses to world peace, human rights and sustainable development, according to Muhammad-Bande.
The inauguration of the alliance came just weeks after researchers from King's College London and Australian National University published a new paper with the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), claiming that the coronavirus pandemic could push global poverty back over one billion people, as the world's poorest face up to $500 million per day in lost income.
COVID-19 is undermining decades of poverty alleviation efforts, but ending poverty remains the first of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. That’s why special attention needs to be placed on post-pandemic economic recovery plans. These plans should prioritize at-risk workers, especially those in the informal sector, says UN Secretary-General Guterres. Small and medium sized businesses and enterprises, including ones owned by women and people of color, should also be protected during this difficult economic downturn.
Guterres has called for improved international cooperation as well. He believes more support is needed for developing countries to avoid the worst impacts of coronavirus. The support could take many forms, from providing financial assistance, to relieving or postponing foreign debt. What’s important is that the coronavirus is not politicized and the most vulnerable populations are protected from deteriorating health and economic situations.