BUENOS AIRES Argentina has demonstrated its resilience in the face of a chronic debt situation, during the last 40 years, at the same time that the country advanced in its democratic processes, the defense of human rights and strengthening their social services, the UN expert said today.

” Argentina must maximize its resources to defend human rights and prevent setbacks ,” said Attiya Waris, UN Independent Expert on the consequences of foreign debt and the related international financial obligations of States for the full enjoyment of all rights rights, especially economic, social and cultural rights, at the conclusion of his 10-day visit to the country.

” Argentina has abundant resources (human and natural), and if they are well directed they should help the State to go a long way in realizing its human rights obligations through pluralism and inclusion ,” said Waris.

Sharing preliminary observations at the end of her visit, the expert mentioned that it is key to rebuild people’s trust in Argentine institutions and the nation’s resources. “The State must lead by adjusting public policies that lead towards the realization of human rights that include all the diversity of its people,” she said.

The UN expert acknowledged that challenges remain. The public debt burden that Argentina has acquired over the years, while helpful in maintaining the stability of the economy, has not translated into a corresponding investment in human rights and livelihood recovery. warned Waris.

“The surcharges that Argentina has had to pay in relation to international public debt have more than doubled the cost of the agreements, thus depleting the country’s resources that could be used to support public policies and programs aimed at protecting and promoting human rights. humans,” he said.

“With very high poverty levels in the country, the lack of adequate communication across all areas of the country and the declining standard of living, the maximum use of available resources is in question,” Waris said. “The situation is deteriorating day by day due to the excessive inflation rates, the start-up of large projects, the practice of multiple exchange rates and a regressive tax system, based largely on VAT, which especially affects people living below the poverty line, including indigenous communities,” he warned.

The expert said that budget cuts for education and housing programs were constant and worrisome, while support for indigenous communities is unstructured.

Waris praised the efforts made by the Argentine authorities to achieve gender equality, but expressed concern about the persistence of the gender pay gap and disparities in the participation of women in the labor market, as well as gender disparities in State institutions, such as the judiciary.

The expert also noted with regret the lack of accountability with the external public debt in the country’s history. “All the powers of the State should participate in the accountability of those responsible for assuming an unsustainable debt and in the search for the repatriation of State assets. The projects that are launched to generate income and pay the debt must count with the informed and participatory consent of the people,” Waris said.

He also expressed his surprise that the country does not have a truth-seeking mechanism to conduct investigations into the country’s debt history and share the results with the people. “Argentina’s debt problem dates back to the days of the dictatorship, through several different administrations. However, despite the efforts of the State to provide reparation to the victims of human rights violations committed during the dictatorship, it is surprising that a similar truth-seeking process has not been established to deal with the country’s debt history,” Waris said.

The expert will present a full report with her conclusions and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in March 2023.

Source: UN Human Rights Council