Papers by Sakiko Fukuda-Parr
Verfassungsblog, Sep 23, 2021
In 1999, the Human Development Report called for stronger international arrangements to govern pe... more In 1999, the Human Development Report called for stronger international arrangements to govern people in a globalized world, stating: "the present era of globalization, driven by competitive global markets, is outpacing the governance of markets and the repercussions on people…. An essential aspect of global governance is responsibility to people-to equity, to justice, and to enlarging the choices of all." As the 21 st century sped into an era of hyper-globalization, new global institutions are urgently needed to protect the public interest. The architecture of global health emergencies is a case in point. Its core agreement, the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) remains state centric, catering to national interests, bound to colonial epistemic frameworks, and silent on market power that can trample on human rights. The age of hyper-globalization requires global institutions that enable global-collective-responses to contain pandemics worldwide, that build on international solidarity and human rights norms, and structures that break free from North-South hierarchies of power and knowledge.
Oxford University Press eBooks, Feb 18, 2010
International Labour Review, Nov 13, 2021
This paper presents a framework to analyse the gendered impact of Covid-19 on workers in global v... more This paper presents a framework to analyse the gendered impact of Covid-19 on workers in global value chains, illustrating the channels of transmission using the business process outsourcing, garments and electronics industries. Keeping the wellbeing of workers as a central focus, we analyse the impacts of the pandemic through health effects and lockdown measures. Our gendered analysis of these pathways focuses on multi-dimensional aspects of well-being, understands the economy as encompassing both production and social reproduction spheres, and examines the social norms and structures of power that produce gender inequalities. As the pandemic accelerates automation in GVCs, we also examine the likely consequences for women workers who are expected to lose out as a result. The paper argues that the pandemic exposes and amplifies the existing vulnerabilities of women workers in GVCs. The distinctive nature of the pandemic is likely to alter the course of the GVC model with its effects on labour varying by industry, geography, and the structural position of workers.
Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Feb 1, 2011
Capabilities and human rights are closely related and share common commitments to freedom and jus... more Capabilities and human rights are closely related and share common commitments to freedom and justice as central political objectives. Much of the literature on this relationship has focused on defining the overlaps and differences between them as theoretical concepts. This paper explores a different aspect of the relationship, namely the overlaps and differences in their respective measurement approaches. The paper argues that human development indicators that are used to evaluate policies for capability expansion, or human development, cannot substitute for human rights indicators because of the differences in them as concepts as well as the way that these concepts are used and applied. Human rights indicators are used to assess the accountability of the state in complying with the obligations that are codified in international and domestic law. However, the literature of development economics and the methods of empirical analysis and aggregative summary measurements extensively used in the human development and capabilities (HD/C) approach can overcome some of the constraints of conventional methods used in human rights assessments. These possibilities are illustrated in the Economic and Social Rights Fulfillment Index, recently developed by Fukuda-Parr, Lawson-Remer and Randolph that conceptualizes an empirical model of progressive realization and provides an empirical basis for setting benchmarks.
2 Emergence and Global Spread of GM Crops: Explaining the Role of Institutional Change Sakiko Fuk... more 2 Emergence and Global Spread of GM Crops: Explaining the Role of Institutional Change Sakiko Fukuda-Parr Biotechnology enthusiasts emphasize the power of the new science to address a seemingly endless array of constraints facing resource poor farmers. But the process of ...
Social Science Research Network, 2010
This paper questions the methodology that is widely used to assess progress in implementing the M... more This paper questions the methodology that is widely used to assess progress in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a methodology that asks whether the targets are likely to be met. This approach is inappropriate, since the MDGs were neither designed as nor intended to be planning targets. They were political commitments, made by world leaders, that define priorities in a normative framework and that can be used as benchmarks in evaluating progress. In this framework the appropriate question is whether more is being done to live up to that commitment, resulting in faster progress. We present a methodology and analysis using this new framework, and find that our assessment of "progress" differs considerably from that arising from the conventional methodology. For example, while access to safe water is touted as an MDG success, only a third of the countries improved at a faster rate. Overall, in most indicators and in most countries, progress has not accelerated.
The idea that human solidarity transcends national boundaries and extends to all people of the wo... more The idea that human solidarity transcends national boundaries and extends to all people of the world is expressed in key human rights documents 1 from the Charter of the United Nations 2 to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 3 to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 4 And the principle that States have international obligations arising from solidarity is stated in these and several other documents, notably in the Declaration on the Right to Development 5 and in the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. 6 Yet this cher-* Professor, New School University, New York; former member, United Nations high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development. 1 See "Human rights and international solidarity", working paper submitted by Rui Baltazar Dos Santos Alves to the Commission on Human Rights Sub-Commission on Promotion and Protection of Human Right at its fifty-sixth session (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/43). 2 "WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED … to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples" (Preamble); "The Purposes of the United Nations are … [t]o achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights …" (Article 1) 3 "Everyone … is entitled to realization, through national effort and international cooperation [of indispensable economic, social and cultural rights]" (art. 22). 4 States undertake to act "individually and through international assistance and cooperation … with a view to achieving progressively [the rights recognized in the Covenant …" (art. 2). 5 "States have a duty to cooperate with each other in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development" (art. 3.3);"States have the duty to take steps, individually and collectively, to formulate international development policies with a view to facilitating the full realization of the right to development" (art. 4). 6 "States have the duty to cooperate with each other in ensuring development …" (A/CONF.157/23 (Part I), chap. III, art. 3); "States have the duty to take steps, individually and collectively, to formulate international development policies with a view to facilitating the full realization of the right to development (ibid., art. 4).
Revista Internacional Del Trabajo, Nov 29, 2021
ResumenEste artículo plantea un marco para analizar el impacto diferenciado de la COVID‐19 según ... more ResumenEste artículo plantea un marco para analizar el impacto diferenciado de la COVID‐19 según el género en las cadenas mundiales de valor de la confección, la electrónica y la externalización de procesos empresariales. Se distingue entre efectos derivados de las repercusiones sobre la salud y derivados de los confinamientos, y entre consecuencias de la interrupción de suministros y de la contracción de la demanda, a partir de una visión multidimensional del bienestar, considerando las esferas productiva y reproductiva, así como las normas sociales y las estructuras de poder que producen desigualdades de género. Se observa que la pandemia expone y amplifica las vulnerabilidades de las trabajadoras en las cadenas mundiales de valor.
Revue Internationale Du Travail, Nov 28, 2021
RésuméLes autrices proposent un cadre d'analyse des effets genrés du COVID‐19 sur les travail... more RésuméLes autrices proposent un cadre d'analyse des effets genrés du COVID‐19 sur les travailleurs de trois chaînes de valeur mondiales (CVM): les services externalisés, l'habillement et l'électronique. Elles distinguent ces effets selon qu'ils sont induits par la maladie ou par les mesures de confinement, et selon qu'ils découlent de l'offre ou de la demande. Elles tiennent compte du caractère multidimensionnel du bien‐être, de l'imbrication des sphères de la production et de la reproduction sociale et du fait que les normes sociales et les structures de pouvoir produisent des inégalités entre les sexes. Elles concluent que la pandémie révèle et renforce les vulnérabilités des travailleuses des CVM.
International Journal of Technology and Globalisation, 2006
Social Research: An International Quarterly, Dec 1, 2012
Since its adoption in 1986 the Declaration on the Right to Development has been mired in academic... more Since its adoption in 1986 the Declaration on the Right to Development has been mired in academic and political controversies, and has had little impact. Yet it was an important innovation that takes international human rights in addressing injustices in the operations of the global economy that impinge human rights, especially in developing countries. The concept is particularly relevant to the twenty first century challenges as global market integration continues to proceed. The paper argues that the failure of RTD to gain momentum is due not only to ideological capture by states but by lack of civil society mobilization. A new discourse on this right is needed for the concept to fulfill its potential in bringing human rights principles into the governance of the global economy. Such discourse should focus on three areas of global economic systems: resource flows, volatility of global markets and asymmetrics of power in multilateral rule making.
Global Policy, Jun 19, 2021
Voluntary guidelines on ‘ethical practices’ have been the response by stakeholders to address the... more Voluntary guidelines on ‘ethical practices’ have been the response by stakeholders to address the growing concern over harmful social consequences of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Issued by dozens of actors from industry, government and professional associations, the guidelines are creating a consensus on core standards and principles for ethical design, development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI). Using human rights principles (equality, participation and accountability) and attention to the right to privacy, this paper reviews 15 guidelines preselected to be strongest on human rights, and on global health. We find about half of these ground their guidelines in international human rights law and incorporate the key principles; even these could go further, especially in suggesting ways to operationalize them. Those that adopt the ethics framework are particularly weak in laying out standards for accountability, often focusing on ‘transparency’, and remaining silent on enforceability and participation which would effectively protect the social good. These guidelines mention human rights as a rhetorical device to obscure the absence of enforceable standards and accountability measures, and give their attention to the single right to privacy. These ‘ethics’ guidelines, disproportionately from corporations and other interest groups, are also weak on addressing inequalities and discrimination. We argue that voluntary guidelines are creating a set of de facto norms and re‐interpretation of the term ‘human rights’ for what would be considered ‘ethical’ practice in the field. This exposes an urgent need for action by governments and civil society to develop more rigorous standards and regulatory measures, grounded in international human rights frameworks, capable of holding Big Tech and other powerful actors to account.
Statistical journal of the United Nations economic commission for Europe, Oct 22, 2001
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of human development. This paper reviews t... more The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of human development. This paper reviews the strengths and limitations of the HDI as a monitoring instrument of human development and of human rights in economic and social areas. It focuses on the following questions:-The what and why-the purpose of the HDI as a summary measure of average national achievement in human development, focussing on survival, knowledge and decent standard of living.-Beyond the HDI-beyond national average achievements to focussing on deprivation and inequality perspectives.-Beyond the HDI-beyond the 3 HDI dimensions (survival, knowledge and decent standard of living) to other important dimensions of human development such as personal security, participation.-HDI and human rights-human rights and human development are two sides of a coin but not the same thing.-HDI and human rights-human rights measures focussing on accountability.
Journal of Human Rights, Jul 1, 2010
Building on previously proposed methodology for an index of economic and social rights fulfillmen... more Building on previously proposed methodology for an index of economic and social rights fulfillment, this paper presents country scores and rankings based on the Economic and Social Rights Fulfillment Index (ESRF Index). Unlike socioeconomic indicators, which are often used as proxies for the extent to which rights-holders enjoy economic and social rights, the ESRF Index incorporates the perspective of the duty-bearer as well as the rights-holder, and takes into account the concept of progressive realization. The resulting scores and rankings provide important new information that complements other measures of economic and social rights fulfillement. The ESRF Index is an important conceptual an methodological breakthrough although is still does not capture all key human rights principles, such as the right to non-discrimination and equality. The paper also analyzes the results of the global ranking and outlines some priorities for further research.
Human Rights Quarterly, 2006
Global Policy, 2019
The SDGs are important because they set consensus norms. At face value, Goal 10 sets a strong nor... more The SDGs are important because they set consensus norms. At face value, Goal 10 sets a strong norm on reducing inequality within and between countries. Yet this is undermined and distorted by the targets and indicators which are weak and set an agenda for inclusion rather than for reducing inequalities. This paper explains this paradox as a result of an intense contestation over the framing of the inequality agenda as inclusion, focusing on the poor and excluded, rather than on extreme inequality. The paper provides a detailed account of the negotiations and argues that the insertion of the shared prosperity measure in setting the target on vertical economic inequality (rather than distribution measures such as Gini or Palma ratio) was strategic. It concludes that the political choice over the meaning of a norm is made on what is said to be a technical basis. The technical and political considerations cannot be disentangled and greater transparency on the policy strengths and weaknesses of measurement choices is needed.
Journal of International Development, Oct 1, 2004
This article reviews the prospects for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It argues that... more This article reviews the prospects for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It argues that these goals will not be achieved by the target date of 2015 unless new action is taken by both rich and poor countries. It shows that current trends sharply contrast countries on their way to meeting the goals and those in a poverty trap. Crisis proportions have been reached in deterioration of life expectancy and falling incomes, but also in a wide range of other indicators in countries such as Zambia as well as Nepal. The origins of this crisis are not just poor governance or poor macroeconomic policies, but rather the difficulties of competing in global markets. A priority for these countries is to invest in basic education and health, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing. Rich countries have fallen seriously behind in living up to their promises to increase aid, debt relief and access to their markets for exports from developing countries-with the welcome but still inadequate increase in aid to reach the 0.7 per cent GDP target, with the collapse of trade talks at Cancun, slow implementation of HIPC, and slow progress in implementation of TRIPS provision for access to technology. Business as usual will not be enough to meet the goals and new action is urgently needed to achieve the goals.
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Papers by Sakiko Fukuda-Parr