Wednesday, August 07, 2013

The "Rights" and Wrongs of Capitalism

870 million people, or one in eight, were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2010-2012. The report further revealed that the vast majority of the hungry, 852 million live in developing countries - around 15 percent of their population.

Analysis of the world food production clearly tells that accumulative food produce is more than enough to safe every child from hunger and malnutrition. However, there exists needless deaths of millions  mainly in poor and developing countries, due to malnutrition and its respective effects, no matter which geographical part of the globe they belong.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in its In Article 25 clearly stated that;
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

 Pakistan faces a high level of malnutrition. 22 to 25 percent of the country’s population is undernourished. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have estimated that approximately 37.5 million people in Pakistan are not receiving proper nourishment. Malnutrition in Pakistan is directly linked with the high incidence of poverty. The poverty stricken people have very little choice for food; therefore, usually the quantity and quality of their food is blow the required level.

 Dr. Tausif Akhtar Janjua, Director, Micronutrient Initiative, explains “The chronic malnutrition levels in Pakistan have not changed in the last 40 years as nearly half of Pakistan’s children and mothers suffer from under-nutrition.”

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in its Article 24 stated;
1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services.
2. States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in particular, shall take appropriate measures:
(a) To diminish infant and child mortality;
(b) To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care;
(c) To combat disease and malnutrition, including within the framework of primary health care, through, inter alia, the application of readily available technology and through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking-water, taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution...

 300,000 children die in Pakistan every year before their fifth birthday.

Capitalism is full of “rights” that are never delivered. It is impossible to legislate away poverty and deprivation with well-meaning international treaties. It requires a change in the economic system to end unnecessary suffering and hardship.

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