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ASIA AT A CROSSROADS – Rising Inequality - Extreme Poverty, Especially Women & Girls
Tondo slum in Manila, Philippines (2014). Credit: Dewald Brand / Miran for Oxfam
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Rising inequality poses a
dire threat to continued prosperity in Asia, where an estimated 500 million
people remain trapped in extreme poverty, most of them women and girls. The
huge gap between rich and poor hinders economic growth, undermines democratic
institutions and can trigger conflict. A determined effort to combat
discrimination, combined with improved policies on taxation and social
spending, is needed now if the region is to secure a stable and prosperous
future. Direct Link to
Full Oxfam Report: http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/file_attachments/bn-asia-crossroads-inequality-200115-en.pdf http://www.oxfam.org/en/research/asia-crossroads Why
the Region Must Address Inequality Now Asia
is at a Crossroads. Rising inequality poses a dire threat to continued
prosperity in Asia, where an estimated 500 million people remain trapped in
extreme poverty, most of them women and girls. The huge
gap between rich and poor hinders economic growth, undermines democratic
institutions and can trigger conflict. If
Asia’s policymakers hold tight to yesterday’s truths, hoping against hope
that growth and prosperity will trickle down to all, they will put everyone’s
welfare at risk. But if there are courageous leaders, willing to tackle
inequality head-on, they can ensure inclusive and sustainable development for
all of Asia’s people. Oxfam
is calling on Asia’s governments to make a determined effort to combat
discrimination and improve policies on taxation and social spending. This is
needed now if the region is to secure a stable and prosperous future. Key
recommendations from the report: Oxfam
recommends that Asian governments prioritize five concrete steps: • Empowering
people: Ensure that poor people, especially women, are able to
actively participate in shaping institutions, policies and actions, so that
these do not further widen the gap between rich and poor. • Fair
access to essential services: Provide everyone with good quality,
free public health services and education. • Fair
access to land and other productive resources and assets: Strengthen
poor people‟s right to land, and expand their access to resources and assets
that are crucial to their livelihood and survival. • Fair
wages: Guarantee equal pay for equal work and pay workers a living
wage sufficient for families to thrive. • Fair
taxation: Ensure that everyone pays their fair share and that tax
measures do not unduly burden the poorer sections of society. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |