Part of the event series, Sussex Development Lectures
Salil Shetty, Secretary General, Amnesty International on "Why economic, social and cultural rights are central to development"
About the lecture
Persistent poverty, inequality, repression and unrest challenge us to question current development paradigms. Despite some commitment to embed human rights in development policy and practice, the reality is that across the world, in rich and poor countries alike, development efforts often fail to protect and promote people’s human rights.
This lecture will discuss why human rights, in particular economic, social and cultural rights, are critical for development and how the denial of these rights will thwart any progress for the poorest and most marginalised people and communities.
About the speaker
Salil Shetty joined Amnesty International as the organisation’s eighth Secretary General in July 2010. A renowned expert on human rights and poverty, Salil Shetty leads the movement’s worldwide work to end grave abuses of human rights. He is the organisation’s chief political adviser, strategist and spokesperson.
Previously, Salil Shetty was the Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign from 2003 to 2010. During his time at the United Nations, he played a pivotal role in building the global advocacy campaign for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Prior to joining the U.N., Salil Shetty was the Chief Executive of ActionAid, an international development NGO.