The Covid-19 ‘recovery’ must supercharge the fight against inequality
Covid-19 has turned our world upside down. There has already been a huge and tragic loss of life. Whilst billionaires see their fortunes continue to rise, hundreds of millions of ordinary people face destitution and hunger. We now face the biggest single increase in inequality since the Great Depression. The gap between rich and poor is likely to rise in every country on Earth at once.
We experience the spiralling inequality crisis daily in our homes, streets, schools, workplaces, communities and on our bodies. Our governments and international institutions have failed us so far in their response. The neoliberal economic system, and the systemic inequalities of centuries of racism, patriarchy and colonialism have made people on the frontlines of inequality more vulnerable and most affected, causing widespread death and mass unemployment.
Covid-19 has supercharged existing inequalities - of race, gender, sexual identity, class, caste, disability and indigenous group. It has laid bare the structural inequalities in our societies that render so many people’s lives vulnerable, exploited, marginalised and abused. Repressive governments have also been supercharged during this pandemic.
The gender dimensions of our economic system are still not fully acknowledged or considered. It deepens women’s economic inequality by exploiting their labour inside and outside the home; rendering it invisible, poorly paid, unpaid, and insecure. The absence of social safety nets needed by women due to their greater vulnerability to economic shocks has exposed the failures of an economic model prioritising productivity for growth over the wellbeing of people.
Whilst governments have been found lacking, ordinary people all over the world showed what solidarity means in the face of this virus. We have been there for each other. Health workers, supermarket shelf stackers, bus drivers, community organisers, carers, put their political leaders to shame. Whilst the hedge fund managers and tax accountants stayed home, essential workers were the ones keeping our world moving and more people safe.
So if we are searching for answers or what a “recovery” looks like, we must supercharge the fight against inequality. We do not want to return to “normal”. We have hope because we are re-imagining and creating very different economies and societies. Where everyone has a life of dignity. Where billionaires do not make the rules. Where we care for the planet.
Our hope has its roots in people, not leaders. We must demand our governments step up. That international institutions like the IMF radically change.
All governments and multilateral institutions must deliver:
We demand a People’s Vaccine, so a Covid-19 vaccine, when ready, is available to all and not determined by what passport someone holds, and does not make huge profits for pharmaceutical companies
We demand an end to the brutal austerity measures governments and international institutions force on our economies
We demand universal public services, including health, water and education
We demand universal basic income and global social protection systems
We demand the cancellation of all unpayable external debt for countries in need
We demand wealth taxes so the richest pay their fair share for the costs of the crisis and an end to industrial levels of tax dodging
We demand the recognition, redistribution and reward of the billions of hours of women’s care work, unpaid and paid, that keeps our economies going.
Today we stand at a crossroads. We can choose to stay on a path to an ever-increasing divide between rich and poor, destroying our world. Or we can choose a better world.
We choose a better world. We will not rely on politicians to act. They are failing us. Or for the powerful to simply give up their privilege and wealth. We know the answers lie with us.
Across the world, people are joining together to demand greater equality and an end to extreme wealth. We believe another world is possible, where everyone matters and we respect the planet. Where nobody is rich or powerful enough to be immune from the rules. Powerful elites and corporations can no longer be allowed to rig the system in their favour. To achieve this, we will loudly challenge the concentration of power in the hands of an elite few, and demand a more equal world. In creating the world we want, we know that there will be nothing about us without us. Together we will #fightinequality.
Signatories
Organisations
International Trade Union Confederation
KRuHA, Indonesia
Asia People’s Movement on Debt & Development
Economic Policy Research Institute, South Africa
Equality Network New Zealand
Income Equality Aotearoa New Zealand & Closing the Gap
Oxfam
CIVICUS
Greenpeace
ActionAid International
Tax Justice UK
Jubilee Debt Campaign, UK
Arab Watch Coalition
AbibiNsroma Foundation, Ghana
Positive Money, UK
Nawi - Afrifem Macroeconomics Collective
My Voice Organization, Kenya
Young Urban Women Coordinated Mombasa County, Kenya
Youth for Sustainable Development - Kilifi, Kenya
South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE)
Humanitarian Accountability Monitoring Initiative (HAMI), Nepal
Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre (KIRDARC), Nepal
Ageing Nepal
Canadians for Tax Fairness
Justice Is Global, USA
Fight Inequality Alliance India
Gauteng Housing Crisis Committee, South Africa
World Basic Income
ActionAid Sierra Leone
Waterberg Women Advocacy Organization, South Africa
Botshabelo Unemployed Movement, South Africa
Global Policy Forum
Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development / INFORSE East Africa
Westside Park Community Crisis Committee, South Africa
Young Urban and Rural Self Empowerment (YURSE), South Africa
Land Access Movement of South Africa
Southern Africa People's Solidarity Network, Southern Africa
SAFIGI Outreach Foundation (Safety First for Girls), Zambia
Sanlakas Philippines
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Centre, Kenya
WomanHealth Philippines
Center for Economic and Social Rights
MACODEFO (Makause Community Development Forum), South Africa
Beautiful Minds Org, Kenya
Africans Rising for Peace, Justice and Dignity
Norwegian Church Aid Southern Africa Regional Office
Sisterhood Adult Teen and Girl Child Movement, South Africa
Be The Change Organization, Afghanistan
Red Juvenil ICIECH, Panamá
ONGD-España, España
RESILIENTXS, México
Fight Inequality Alliance México
The Americas Program, Perú
Ensamble, México
INDESIG / Gatitos Contra la Desigualdad, México
Waricha, Guatemala
Fundación Comunitaria Malinalco, México
Agape Woman and Child Empowerment Foundation (AWOCHE), Kenya
American Friends Service Committee, Oficina Regional de América Latina y El Caribe
Equalita Mx, México
Instituto Mexicano para el Desarrollo Comunitario (IMDEC), México
NYU - Center on International Cooperation
Indian Social Action Forum
Growthwatch, India
Digo Bikas Institute (DBI), Nepal
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
Centre for Environmental Justice, Sri Lanka
National Hawkers Federation, India
Freedom From Debt Coalition, Philippines
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
All India Women Hawkers Federation
Oriang Women's Movement, Philippines
Tax and Fiscal Justice Alliance, Nepal
Global Alliance for Tax Justice
Solidar Suisse, Switzerland
LATINDADD Red Latinoamericana por Justicia Económica y Social
Instituto Mexicano para el Desarrollo Comunitario (IMDEC), México
Individuals
Isabel Ortiz, Director, Global Social Justice
Professor Guy Standing
Irlanda Agraz, México
Ruth Serecer, México
Steffany Elena Polanco Siguere, Guatemala
Andrés Rojas, Paraguay
Hannah Diaz, South Africa
Patrick Mabude, South Africa
John Christensen, Global
Andrew Myendo, Kenya
Adrian, Wangatiah, Kenya
Evans Muswahili, Kenya
Nelson Joao, Angola
Lena Dominelli, United Kingdom
Jose Manuel Roche, Global
Caroline O'Reilly, South Africa
Frances Stewart, United Kingdom
T. Sabri Öncü, Turkey
Ümit Yamantürk, Turkey
Julio Boltvinik, Mexico
Fambai Ngirande, Zimbabwe
Brighton Chanda Chisanga, Zambia
Dorothee Spannagel, Germany
Valentina Montanaro, Portugal
Jorge Pimentel, México