Spain's failure to protect rights amid rising poverty | Human Rights Watch

Spain's Failure to Protect Rights Amid Rising Poverty

Food insecurity and poverty are enduring problems in Spain. Just over a decade ago, the 2008 global financial crisis sharply exacerbated both food insecurity…

Food insecurity and poverty are persistent problems in Spain. Just over a decade ago, the 2008 global financial crisis significantly exacerbated both food insecurity and poverty. And just as people's living standards appeared to be improving, the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic impact have exacerbated both poverty and food insecurity.

At the start of the pandemic, the Spanish government expanded existing unemployment benefit programs and introduced a new flagship welfare scheme. However, despite the government's stated good intentions, existing weaknesses and deficiencies in the social security system and problems in designing new forms of support meant that support was insufficient. Limitations on the scope and eligibility of both existing and new interventions have meant that many people still rely on non-governmental food aid to feed themselves and their families and struggle to meet their basic needs. As a result, the Spanish government is failing in its obligation to protect and fulfill people's right to food and a decent standard of living.

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