“
…the lack of attention to equity is widely regarded as one of the most significant shortcomings of the health MDGs. Although equity is an important part of the Millennium Declaration, it is not a central feature in monitoring the MDGs. Because the goals focus on aggregate national targets, they fail to measure and thus disregard outcomes for disadvantaged and marginalized groups. The focus on improving national averages encourages utilitarian rather than universal approaches, often exacerbating inequities even when progress is made in absolute average levels of indicators.
”
Health consultation, final report, p24
Indigenous man in Puyo, Ecuador (Photo: Mareike Eberz, UNDP)
inequality, discrimination and exclusion they experience. It is frequently associated with calls to be treated with dignity and respect. It is also expressed strongly in all of the thematic consultations, and not just the consultation that deals explicitly with inequalities and the structural drivers of inequalities. In the Inequalities consultation, we heard that “the most common feature of the hundreds of papers and other submissions was the clear view that any response to inequalities can and must be guided by human rights”. Evidence suggests that inequalities in many dimensions have increased since 2000, making these calls even more forceful. The consultations point to how different forms of inequalities and discrimination intersect and reinforce each other — for example, inequalities in access to land and other assets, to social services, to nutritious food, safe drinking water and improved sanitation. Gender-based discrimination was identified as a significant manifestation and driver of inequalities. Education systems still exclude some groups, and illiteracy and income poverty mean that some are less able to exercise their rights in other areas. Such inequalities are often further reinforced by discriminatory social and cultural attitudes and practices, and even legislative or administrative biases.
18 A M i l l i o n V o i c e s: The World We Wan t | A Sus tain able Fu t ure w it h Digni t y f or All