Human rights under financial crisis

The global financial slowdown has not only affected development, but also human rights. And developed nations should make good on their commitments of assistance to developing nations to tackle the common challenges. This was the consensus of participants at the opening of a human rights forum in Beijing.

Falling stocks, shrinking incomes, and rising unemployment, the global financial crisis has worsened the situation of human rights worldwide.

Samuel Kofi Woods, Liberian Minister of Public Works, said, "It has affected us more than developed countries. Already, we have been affected by heavy debt burden, issue of aid flows, questions we wanted to be addressed."

Palan Mulonda, vice-president of Zambian Human Rights Committee, said, "Now once inflows are going down, it basically reduces the ability of government to raise efficient money to make social investment. "

China has already taken measures to stimulate growth. The government has also made employment a top priority.