Session 2: Solving Post Pandemic Economic Poverty and Inequalities in the World of Flux
COVID-19 has created catastrophic economic consequences worldwide. The world in 2020 and 2021 witnessed the largest increases in global poverty and inequality since 1990. No country has been able to fully avoid the economic consequences of the global pandemic, but some have been affected more severely than others. A survey of 37 countries by Save the Children International indicated that 3 in 4 households suffered a fall in income since the start of the pandemic, with 82% of poorer households affected. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing poverty and inequities which are more complex to the low-income society. How to solve poverty and inequities in the aftermath of the pandemic? It is difficult to find precise answers.
- What are the most effective measures to solve poverty and inequality after this hard-hitting crisis?
- How can we build social protection systems that work in a world where crises, volatility, and uncertainty will become the new normal?
Moderator: Akram Yusof, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance
Speakers:
1. Prof. Dr. Mark R. Rank,
Herbert S. Hadley Professor of Social Welfare, Washington University in St. Louis
2. Dr. Michael Samson,
Director of Research of the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI) – VDO
3. Achim Steiner,
Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
(represented by Dr. Chetan Kumar, Regional Peacebuilding Senior Advisor for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)) – Zoom Live
4. Gabriela Bucher,
Executive Director of Oxfam International, England (represented by John Samuel, the Regional Director for Asia for Oxfam International and Former CEO of FORUM ASIA, the largest membership-based human rights and development organization in Asia.) – Onsite
5. H.E. Dr. Bhokin Bhalakula,
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, President of the Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, Vice President of the Supreme Administrative Court of Thailand – Onsite