UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk asked a powerful question that many around the world are seeking an answer to, ‘Who is the economy working for?’
“Economies that Work for All,” a podcast series produced by UN Human Rights and the UN System Staff College – Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development, suggests that for far too many people, the answer to this question does not include them.
This urgency sparks another question that sheds a light on the future we could build: Can human rights foster economies that promote equitable and sustainable societies? A Human Rights Economy does precisely that, by putting people and the planet at the centre of all economic decisions, with the goal of leaving no one behind.
“When economic policy is grounded in human rights, it strengthens trust, sustainability, and improves lives,” Türk said.
“Economies that Work for All,” analyses how economies and human rights can work hand in hand and unlock progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
Season 1 of the series introduced listeners to the foundational ideas behind the human rights economy. During fruitful conversations with guests that included Türk and prominent economistsMariana Mazzucato, Jayati Ghosh, Kate Raworth, Grieve Chelwa, and Epsy Campbell, the first six episodes of the series explored how human rights can be a problem-solving tool and can help advance economic thinking that promotes more just and sustainable societies.
In season 2, the focus shifts to the practical realm: how human rights economy principles are being translated into real-world policies across regions and sectors. These new weekly episodes will focus on how States can implement decisions that are grounded in human rights and explore whether they can serve as a compass for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development.
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