Penalization of people living in poverty 2011, para. 52

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Paragraph text
In many countries, those entitled to social benefits are required to prove their entitlement by providing excessive amounts of documentation and disclosing irrelevant personal information. This is often a stressful and demeaning process for beneficiaries. Persons living in poverty face several obstacles and costs in gaining access to official documents. Documents may be expensive, and accessing them difficult for individuals who do not have a fixed address or lack proof of identity. This is particularly common in developing countries, where some of the most vulnerable and excluded people, particularly women and ethnic minorities, are not registered at birth. Obtaining documents also requires additional interactions with public officials who often lack sufficient understanding of the specific needs and circumstances of persons living in poverty. Anecdotal evidence shows that social benefit administrators are often inconsiderate or unsympathetic towards beneficiaries, who in addition to bureaucratic hurdles must overcome gaps in education, literacy and communication when seeking to comply with often complex and opaque requirements.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
Document type
Special Procedures' report
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
  • Equality & Inclusion
  • Poverty
Person(s) affected
  • Ethnic minorities
  • Women
Year
2011
Paragraph type
Other
Paragraph number
52