Macarena Cano Muñoz
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Honouring Public Service Day
A Commitment to Social Justice
Public Service Day, observed annually on 23 June, is a vital occasion to celebrate the invaluable contributions of public servants and the essential role of public services in our societies. In the current climate of increasing privatisation and austerity measures, it is more important than ever to recognise and protect these services.
At GI-ESCR, we are dedicated to advocating for robust public services that uphold human rights and promote social justice.
Mid-Year Check-In:
Advocating for Public Services Through Our Publications
This year, we have been hard at work producing key publications that underscore the importance of public services in fostering equitable societies.
Here are some highlights:
'Build Us More Schools!' - The Quest for Quality Free Education in Mabatini and Ngei Wards of Mathare, Nairobi
Our latest publication reveals that despite the presence of private and low-cost schools, the quality and accessibility of education in this region remains inadequate for many children, especially in informal settlements. The proliferation of private schools has led to significant disparities in education quality, with many children unable to afford school fees and related costs. This publication highlights the urgent need for government intervention to address these inequities and fulfil its constitutional mandate to provide free and compulsory basic education for every child.
Access to Healthcare in Côte d'Ivoire: A Participatory-Action Research
This publication reveals that public healthcare provision plays a vital role in ensuring that the right to health is accessible to all, especially the most marginalised groups. Unlike private healthcare, which often remains fragmented, expensive and inaccessible to low-income individuals, public healthcare facilities offer more affordable and specialised care. However, the research also underscores that public healthcare services in Côte d'Ivoire are severely underfunded and understaffed, necessitating urgent investment and support. This reinforces the importance of robust public services in realising fundamental human rights and reducing inequalities in healthcare access.
Transformative Policies to Realise Universal Access to Medicines
This policy brief underscores the crucial need for public services in the realm of healthcare. It highlights the limitations of commercial approaches to pharmaceutical innovation, which often prioritise profit over public health, leading to high medication prices and neglect of diseases that require treatments that are not lucrative. Instead, the brief advocates for policies such as knowledge commons and public options for pharmaceuticals, demonstrating that public ownership and open science can effectively address global health inequalities. By ensuring that essential medicines are accessible to all, without discrimination, these public options uphold the fundamental right to health.
The Commons and Public Services: A New Way Forward or an Alternative to Human Rights?
This publication underscores that the commercialisation of public services has led to a loss of democratic control, particularly harming the most disadvantaged. When these services are privatised, the focus shifts from public welfare to profit, often resulting in adverse outcomes for vulnerable populations. GI-ESCR's exploration of the Commons model suggests that enabling local communities to manage resources collectively can offer a more equitable and inclusive approach, challenging the profit-driven models and promoting a fairer distribution of resources.
Understanding Public Perception of Services
To further our advocacy, we commissioned studies on the perception of public services in Latin America, Nigeria and India. Conducted by the market research and public opinion agency ‘Lexia’, these studies reveal diverse regional insights and the critical need for policy interventions to enhance service quality and accessibility.
Latin America
The study highlighted significant disparities in the access to and quality of public services, particularly for vulnerable groups such as those facing multidimensional poverty and gender-based inequalities. The data emphasised the urgent need for policies that address these disparities to ensure that public services fulfil their role in promoting social justice and human rights.
Nigeria
The research underscored the severe challenges faced by the public sector, particularly in education and healthcare. The public's perception was marked by a lack of trust in the quality and reliability of government services, with many preferring private alternatives despite the higher costs. This situation was compounded by systemic issues such as corruption and inadequate infrastructure, which severely undermined the effectiveness of public services.
India
The study revealed a nuanced view of public services. While there was recognition of the improvements made in recent years, particularly in healthcare, significant challenges remained. The public sector was seen as essential for providing affordable services, but it struggled with issues of quality and efficiency. The ambivalent perception of public services in India reflected the trade-offs that citizens had to make between cost, quality and accessibility.
These insights are instrumental in shaping effective policies and advocacy strategies to ensure public services meet the needs of all, especially the most vulnerable.
Our Commitment at GI-ESCR
At GI-ESCR, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for strong public services that uphold human rights and promote social justice.
Our research and publications are critical tools in highlighting the disparities and challenges faced by communities worldwide. By drawing attention to these issues, we aim to inspire action and policy changes that ensure equitable access to essential services for all.
Together, we can build a fairer, more just society.
Thank you for your continued support,
The GI-ESCR Team
