Austerity is ‘undermining’ human rights

Austerity measurers have undermined human rights in many countries across the EU, including Ireland, according to the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner.

Nils Muiznieks warned that governments and international lenders must be careful when implementing EU budget policies in future to protect economic and social rights, especially of the most vulnerable.

Governments in several countries have forgotten about such obligations when imposing cutbacks and tax increases and had not taken into account their effect on the social and economic rights of the most vulnerable, Mr Muiznieks said.