MS CARMONA: ECONOMIC GRWOTH IS NOT BENEFITING THE POOR IN MONGOLIA

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ “The Mongolian economy has continued to show impressive double-digit growth despite the global economic and financial crisis, yet the poorest of the poor are not enjoying the benefits of such growth,” warned on Friday the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms Magdalena Sepulveda Carmona , at the end of her first fact-finding mission to the country. “While some parts of the country are being transformed, poverty remains very high and is becoming entrenched not only in rural areas but also in urban centres as the income gap widens and inequality increases” Ms Carmona noted. “The fact that poverty levels remain high and there are increasing inequalities is a clear demonstration that the benefits of economic growth have not trickled down to the poor,” she added. The rights expert expressed concern about the challenges faced by the groups most vulnerable and severely affected by poverty and social exclusion in Mongolia, such as women, children and youth, persons with disabilities, older persons, internal migrants, herders and nomadic communities, ethnic minorities, LGBT, persons living with HIV/AIDS and stateless persons. “I have found that, for the most part, Mongolia has established a robust legal framework, recognizing that everyone must enjoy the rights to education, health, housing, food, etc. However, the laws do not necessarily translate into the everyday reality for many Mongolians,” noted Ms Carmona, stressing that “there are severe implementation gaps in almost all social policies, ranging from domestic violence to trafficking.” The Special Rapporteur urged the Mongolian Government to devise and adopt a poverty reduction strategy based on human rights that includes time-bound benchmarks, effective implementation plans, monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure authorities comply with their mandates. “Mongolia must foresee the necessary budgetary implications and ensure sustainability in the long term and implement the strategy with strong cross-sectorial coordination through the leadership of a designated ministry,” she said. “The Government must immediately address the critical needs and pressing problems of the poorest and most marginalized in Mongolian society as a matter of priority,” the expert stressed. “The poorest sectors of society must be assured that their rights will be protected, adequate resources will be provided and that they will be able to access basic services.” “Those living in poverty in Mongolia can wait no longer,” she underscored. During her five-day mission, Ms Carmona with senior Government officials, donor agencies, international organizations, financial institutions, civil society and communities living in poverty both within the capital and surrounding ger districts, as well as Erdene soum in Tov province of the country. The UN Special Rapporteur addressed some key findings and recommendations during a press conference today that will be further developed in the report to the Human Rights Council in June 2013. B.Khuder