Poverty and human rights

Everyone, everywhere has the right to live with dignity. That means that no-one should be denied their rights to adequate housing, food, water and sanitation, and to education and health care.

Amnesty International is increasingly documenting how human rights violations drive and deepen poverty. People living in poverty have the least access to power to shape the policies of poverty and are frequently denied effective remedies for violations of their rights.

Amnesty International is working to hold governments, big business and other powerful actors to account for human rights violations which target people living in poverty, driving that poverty deeper still.


Homes set ablaze during forced eviction at Mittapheap 4 village, Cambodia, 20 April 2007

UN discusses crucial step on economic, social and cultural rights

(24 October 2008)
The UN General Assembly will this month discuss taking a crucial step to secure access to justice for everyone whose economic, social and cultural rights are violated and who is denied a remedy at the national level.
Video: How things could change


Kibera slum in Kenya

Poverty Day to address human rights and dignity

(17 October 2008)
This year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is a call to everyone, from policy makers to the public, to recognise the rights and dignity of people living in poverty.

Video: Working against poverty in Kenya


Shelters made from materials salvaged from ruins of Cambamba II neighbourhood, Luanda, Angola, February 2007

Angola bad choice to host World Habitat Day

(6 October 2008)
The choice of the Angolan capital Luanda to lead the global observance of this year's World Habitat Day provoked controversy among housing and human rights organizations.

Read more: Human rights violations in cities around the world


This work is part of Amnesty International's Demand Dignity campaign, which aims to end the human rights violations that drive and deepen global poverty. The campaign will mobilize people all over the world to demand that governments, corporations and others who have power listen to the voices of those living in poverty and recognise and protect their rights. For more information visit the Demand Dignity section.

News and Updates

Ireland: Abortion issue must be clarified by Irish government

17 November 2012

The tragic death of Savita Halappanavar illustrates a gap in Irish law and policy on the most basic human rights level - that is a woman’s right to access abortion where her life is at risk.

Czech government still failing to address discrimination against Romani children in schools

8 November 2012

Romani children in the Czech Republic are still being denied the educational opportunities offered to other students.

Brazil: Slum campaign on human rights ahead of police operation

5 November 2012

Tens of thousands of slum-dwellers in Rio de Janeiro are the focus of an NGO campaign on human rights ahead police plans to "pacify" the area.

Blog: The Shell Game

29 October 2012

For decades the oil industry in Nigeria’s Niger Delta has caused widespread pollution of land and water, damaging people’s ability to fish and farm, and putting their health at risk.

Guatemala: After massacre, real dialogue must follow investigation and prosecutions

26 October 2012

Proper consultation with Indigenous Peoples, rural workers and civil society groups is the only way the Guatemalan authorities can prevent violence erupting at protests.

Issues

Appeals for action

Call for governments to sign up to defend economic, social and cultural rights

13 August 2009

Hunger, homelessness and preventable diseases are not inevitable social problems or simply the result of natural disasters – they are a violation of people’s economic, social and cultural rights.

Nicaragua must lift the total ban on abortion

27 July 2009

Nicaragua’s total ban on abortions is endangering the lives of girls and women across the country.

Oil companies and the Nigerian government must clean up the oil industry in the Niger Delta

30 June 2009

Hundreds of thousands of people are affected by oil pollution in the Niger Delta. Particularly the poorest and those who rely on traditional livelihoods such as fishin

Video and Audio

Teargas in Egypt's Tahrir Square

29 June 2011

Amnesty International's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui reports from demonstrations in Tahrir Square, Cairo.

World Habitat Day - Slideshow 2

World Habitat Day - Slideshow 2

Out of sight - In their own words

Maja was with her children on the day of the resettlement, and she describes here what conditions are like in the settlement of Rakovica...