UN official calls poverty biggest human rights violator

he National Human Rights Chairman Justice K. G. Balakrishnan Wednesday said here that poverty is the biggest human rights violator and adequate measures must be taken to abolish it, reported the Press Trust of India.

"Poverty is the biggest violator of human rights. Its eradication is vital for development. Poverty should not be treated as merely a development project. The agenda must include provisions of all such basic amenities like health care, safe drinking water, adequate nutrition, educational facilities, etc.," Balakrishnan was quoted as saying.

The UN official also said courts and constitutions have held back from making socio-economic rights to food, shelter and health care legally binding because of finite availability of fiscal resources, but steps must be taken to ensure that no one dies of starvation, according to the report.

Source: Xinhua