Testimony
on the impact of debt burden on women
Witness: Specioza N. Kiwanuka (Uganda)
The International Peoples' Tribunal on Debt February 2, 2002, Porto
Alegre, Brazil
"The early 1980's financial crisis faced by many countries in the
South had unpayable debt service as the immediate cause that was precipitated
by the tight money policies in the rich countries that drastically hiked
international interest rates. The debt debate ignores the fact that
debts were contracted as a result of borrowing by undemocratic governments
that were not mandated by the people.
People living in poverty did not benefit from many of these loans yet
they bear the burden of repayment. In addition, they live with the effects
of far-reaching economic policy changes required of countries to qualify
for debt restructuring, new loans and foreign investment. Debt analysis
demonstrates the question of power balance since it has become an instrument
used to regulate economic relations between developed and developing
countries. This has directly contributed to a shift and to a more powerful
role for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in the South,
with adverse implications on the livelihood of the marginalised sections
of society, especially the women and children..."
AFRICA: ECA addresses
links between poverty and gender
NAIROBI, 12 November
(IRIN) - Most African countries have the political will to tackle gender
issues and improve the status of women yet widespread poverty and unequal
access to assets remain particular problems to be addressed, according
to the Economic Commission for Africa.
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Copyright (c) UN
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2001
The assets of the 200 richest people in the world are
more than the total income of 41% of the world's people. A 1% tax on
the wealth of these 200 people could fund primary education for all
the world's children who lack access to schooling.
Source: United Nations
Development Programme, Human Development Report 1999.
http://www.undp.org/hdro/99.htm______________________________________
sent to WLOE by the Public Education Network pen@penpress.org
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