Greece: “Troika Bailout Conditions Are Undermining Human Rights,” Warns UN Expert On Debt and Human Rights
GENEVA (1 May 2013) – The prospects of a significant number of Greeks securing an adequate standard of living in line
with international human rights standards have been compromised by bailout conditions imposed by Greece’s international
lenders, United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Cephas Lumina, warned.
“More than ten per cent of the population in Greece now lives in extreme poverty, and unemployment amongst youth has
reached an unprecedented rate of 59.3 per cent,” the human rights expert said.
He was speaking at the end of a week-long mission to Greece to assess the impact of the country’s economic crisis and
austerity measures on the capacity of the Government to realize all human rights, particularly economic, social and
cultural rights.
In order to avoid default, Greece agreed in 2010 with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the
International Monetary Fund to implement radical cuts in Government expenditure in return for a bailout loan. It also
adopted a structural reform programme aimed at reducing the country’s fiscal deficit and returning the economy to
growth. The Greek economy has, however, shrunk by about 25 per cent and continues in recession.
“Greece remains the only country in the Eurozone where a comprehensive social assistance scheme serving as a social
safety net of last resort is missing,” Mr. Lumina said.
The austerity programme, in his view, was being implemented in the context of a social protection system ill-equipped to
absorb the shock of unemployment, salary cuts and tax increases.
The Independent Expert warned that the public health system was increasingly inaccessible, in particular for poor
citizens and marginalized groups. “Nearly one third of the Greek population is without public health insurance, mainly
due to prolonged unemployment,” he added.
The only option for increasing numbers of Greeks was health care provided by community clinics, free of charge. “Run by
volunteers, the clinics are a laudable expression of solidarity within the Greek society,” Mr. Lumina said. “However,”
he added, “it is a primary obligation of the State to ensure access to basic health care for all without any
discrimination.”
The expert said privatization should be undertaken cautiously and with sensitivity to the rights of the population,
noting that utilities which provide essential public services such as water and energy are among the businesses targeted
for privatization to reduce the public debt. “The privatization will likely entail further increases of user fees for
the basic services,” he said.
Mr. Lumina also expressed concern at the significant increase in attacks on foreigners by extremist groups. “It appears
that the economic crisis has magnified a problem that has existed for several years,” he noted.
The authorities needed to send a strong message that such criminal acts would not be tolerated, by strengthening the
legal and institutional framework for combating them, he said.
Mr. Lumina welcomed the establishment of 70 anti-racist police units and the appointment of a Special Prosecutor
responsible for the investigation of racist crimes “as an important step to combat such incidents”.
He urged the Greek Government and its creditors to adopt a human rights-based approach to designing and implementing
economic reform. “These policies must be consistent with the obligations for the promotion of human rights that the
country has assumed through ratification of core international human rights instruments,” he said.
“Development cannot be sustainable if human rights are not sufficiently taken into account. Ensuring the full
participation of all segments of society in decision-making processes, enhancing efforts to reduce inequality, and
respecting, promoting and protecting all human rights are critical to sustainable development,” he concluded.
During his first visit to Greece from 22-26 April 2013, the expert met with senior Government officials, including
representatives of various Ministries and members of Parliament. He also held meetings with representatives of
international organizations, national human rights bodies and civil society, as well as persons affected by the economic
crisis.
His final findings and his recommendations will be presented in a comprehensive report to the UN Human Rights Council in
March 2014.
ENDS