Human Rights Must Be at the Heart of Economic Governance and Policies: Ambassador Irene Khan

New York, 27 October 2026: Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Irene Zubaida Khan called for placing human rights at the canter of economic policymaking and governance during a high-level dialogue titled “The Political Economy of Human Rights” held at UN Headquarters today.

Ambassador Khan emphasized that economic progress must be measured not merely by growth but by its contribution to equality, human dignity and the realization of fundamental rights. She underscored the need for equitable taxation, affordable development financing, debt sustainability and reforms of the international financial architecture.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted growing concentrations of economic and political power, rising military expenditure, mounting debt burdens and widening inequalities that are sending back human rights. Speakers stressed the need for fairer international tax system, equitable debt restructuring, accountable economic governance and meaningful civil society participation to address structural inequalities and protect vulnerable communities.

Discussions examined how conflicts, excessive debt-servicing costs and declining development assistance constrain investments in education, healthcare, social protection and sustainable peace.

The event brought together Ambassadors Omar Hilale (Morocco), Laura Dupuy Lasserre (Uruguay), Mxolisi Nkosi (South Africa) and Stavros Lambrinidis (European Union) alongside human rights expert Ignacio Saiz, Professor Sakiko Fukuda-Parr and UN Independent Expert Attiya Waris.

Jointly organized by the Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Morocco, South Africa and Uruguay, the dialogue emphasized the need to embed human rights principles in international economic governance and future global development frameworks beyond 2030.