In a powerful address that resonated across the international community, a United Nations expert has raised an urgent alarm about the escalating threat of global inequality to human rights. Speaking at a major session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 12, 2025, George Katrougalos, an independent expert tasked with promoting a democratic and equitable international order, declared that deep-seated inequities remain entrenched in the global system. He highlighted stark imbalances in trade, finance, technology, and governance that continue to widen the chasm between wealthy nations and their developing counterparts. Without sweeping reforms, he cautioned, the promise of a multipolar world risks collapsing into fragmentation, further undermining the rights to dignity, justice, and opportunity for billions of people.
Katrougalos’s remarks were grounded in a detailed report he presented, which dissects how systemic inequalities erode the foundations of human rights worldwide. The document argues that global inequality is not a mere byproduct of historical processes but a deliberate feature of an international order designed to perpetuate the dominance of wealthier nations. This sobering analysis challenges governments, international institutions, and civil society to confront their roles in sustaining a system that disproportionately harms the most vulnerable. As the world grapples with trade wars, climate crises, and technological divides, the expert’s warning underscores the urgent need for collective action to rebalance global power dynamics and safeguard human rights for all.
The Roots of the North-South Divide
The divide between the Global North and Global South, often referred to as the North-South divide, is a legacy of centuries-old colonial exploitation that has been reinforced by modern economic and political structures. Post-World War II institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank were established to foster global stability, but their policies have frequently prioritized the interests of industrialized nations. For instance, loan conditions imposed on developing countries often demand austerity measures that slash public spending on essential services like healthcare and education. This has trapped many nations in cycles of debt, diverting resources from citizens to foreign creditors. Today, developing countries bear a disproportionate share of global sovereign debt while contributing a fraction of global economic output, creating a stark barrier to achieving basic human rights such as access to clean water, medical care, and schooling.
Historically, the 1980s debt crises in regions like Latin America and Africa illustrated this dynamic vividly. Countries were forced to prioritize interest payments over social welfare, leading to widespread poverty and diminished opportunities. This pattern persists in 2025, with developing nations struggling under the weight of massive external debts. Governments, unable to invest in infrastructure or social programs, see their citizens’ rights to health, education, and a decent standard of living—core principles of international human rights frameworks—systematically undermined. The expert’s report emphasizes that this is not a natural outcome but a consequence of deliberate policy choices that favor wealthier nations.
Four Pillars of Global Inequality
Katrougalos’s analysis identifies four key drivers of global inequality, each contributing to the erosion of human rights in distinct yet interconnected ways. The first is the structure of the international economic order, which tilts heavily in favor of industrialized nations. Unfair trade agreements and intellectual property rules often protect the interests of wealthier countries while stifling economic growth in the South. For example, agricultural subsidies in Europe and North America flood global markets with cheap goods, undercutting farmers in developing nations. This has led to increased food insecurity in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where agriculture is a primary livelihood for millions. The resulting poverty and displacement directly violate the right to food and economic stability, leaving entire communities vulnerable to exploitation and marginalization.
The second driver is the unequal exploitation of environmental resources, which compounds the challenges faced by developing nations. Wealthy countries, which have historically contributed the lion’s share of global carbon emissions, continue to benefit from extractive industries that degrade Southern ecosystems. Deforestation in the Amazon, driven by demand for agricultural products like soy and beef, displaces indigenous communities and destroys biodiversity critical to global ecosystems. This not only infringes on the right to a healthy environment but also violates the rights of indigenous peoples to their land and cultural heritage. Small island nations, meanwhile, face existential threats from rising sea levels caused by climate change they did little to create, highlighting a profound injustice in the global environmental order.
The third pillar is the intertwined crises of debt and climate change, which place an unbearable burden on developing countries. These nations, already grappling with staggering debt loads, face mounting costs from climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes. International commitments to provide climate finance have fallen woefully short, forcing governments to borrow at high interest rates to cover recovery costs. This deepens their financial dependence and reduces funding for essential services, effectively turning human rights like access to housing and healthcare into luxuries. For example, recent catastrophic flooding in South Asia displaced millions and caused billions in damages, yet international aid covered only a fraction of the costs, pushing affected countries deeper into debt and austerity.
The fourth driver is the digital divide, a modern manifestation of inequality that excludes billions from the benefits of technological advancement. While wealthier nations enjoy near-universal internet access, vast populations in the Global South remain offline, limiting their access to education, employment, and civic participation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this gap became painfully evident as students in rural areas struggled to access online learning, perpetuating educational disparities. The dominance of technology giants in the North further marginalizes Southern voices in areas like artificial intelligence and digital governance, reinforcing global power imbalances. This digital exclusion undermines rights to education and information, stifling economic and social mobility for entire regions.
The Role of Global Powers
Katrougalos’s report singles out certain policies of major powers, particularly the United States, as exacerbating these inequalities. Recent trade measures, including steep tariffs imposed on imports from emerging economies, have disrupted global supply chains and hit Southern exporters hardest. These policies, reminiscent of protectionist measures from the early 20th century, have driven up commodity prices and triggered economic fallout in countries reliant on trade. For instance, garment industries in nations like Bangladesh have faced significant declines in orders, leading to job losses and increased vulnerability, particularly for women workers. Such economic disruptions infringe on the right to work and exacerbate gender inequalities, as women often bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities amid financial strain.
The report also critiques the broader geopolitical strategies of powerful nations, including territorial disputes and support for proxy conflicts, which destabilize the Global South. These actions contribute to a fragmented world order where economic and political power remains concentrated in the hands of a few, sidelining the interests of developing nations. This concentration of power undermines the democratic principles of equitable participation in global governance, a cornerstone of human rights advocacy.
A Call for Systemic Reform
The UN expert’s mandate, established to promote a democratic and equitable international order, provides a framework for addressing these challenges. Katrougalos’s recommendations are bold and far-reaching, calling for systemic reforms to realign global institutions with principles of fairness and justice. A key proposal is to increase the representation of the Global South in international decision-making bodies. For instance, expanding the permanent membership of the UN Security Council to include representatives from Africa, Latin America, and other regions would give voice to those most affected by global inequities. This reform, long demanded by coalitions like the African Union, would help democratize global security and ensure that human rights considerations are central to international policy.
On the economic front, the report advocates for a restructuring of the global debt architecture. Proposals include automatic debt suspension during climate disasters and redirecting a portion of wealthier nations’ economic output to fund climate adaptation in the South. Such measures would honor the principle of shared responsibility for environmental crises, ensuring that those who contributed most to climate change bear the cost of mitigation. Additionally, addressing the digital divide requires initiatives to expand internet access and promote open-source technologies, enabling developing nations to harness the benefits of the digital economy.
Challenges and Opportunities
Implementing these reforms faces significant obstacles, including resistance from wealthier nations reluctant to cede their economic and political advantages. Powerful lobbies, from agribusiness to technology firms, often influence global trade and policy discussions, prioritizing profit over equity. Moreover, political fragmentation and competing interests among emerging powers risk undermining collective action. However, the rise of a multipolar world, with countries like China and India gaining influence, offers an opportunity to rebalance global power dynamics. If harnessed correctly, this shift could amplify the voices of the Global South and foster a more equitable international order.
Civil society has responded enthusiastically to Katrougalos’s call, with human rights organizations urging member states to act on his recommendations. Grassroots movements in developing nations see the report as a validation of their struggles against systemic inequities, from land rights to climate justice. The ongoing session of the Human Rights Council provides a critical platform for advancing these ideas, with side events focused on debt relief and digital inclusion gaining traction. Looking ahead, the UN’s upcoming Summit of the Future in 2026 offers a chance to embed these reforms in global commitments, potentially reshaping multilateralism for the better.
The Human Cost of Inaction
The consequences of unchecked inequality extend beyond economics to the core of human rights. Economic desperation fuels migration crises, with thousands risking their lives to escape poverty and climate impacts, only to face perilous journeys and hostile policies. In regions like the Sahel, droughts linked to Northern consumption patterns drive displacement, while authoritarian regimes in indebted states suppress dissent to secure loans, eroding freedoms of speech and assembly. These trends highlight how inequality undermines not just economic and social rights but also civil and political liberties.
The expert’s warning is a clarion call to action, emphasizing that human rights are not negotiable but the foundation of a just world. Failure to address global inequality risks further fragmenting the international order, with parallel institutions and competing alliances sidelining rights-based approaches. Conversely, embracing systemic reforms could pave the way for a multipolar world where equity empowers all people, fulfilling the UN’s founding vision of dignity and justice for all.
Conclusion
As the world navigates an era of unprecedented challenges—from trade wars to climate crises—Katrougalos’s message at the Human Rights Council serves as both a warning and a roadmap. Global inequality, deeply embedded in the structures of trade, finance, technology, and governance, threatens to unravel the progress made in human rights since the Universal Declaration was adopted in 1948. By addressing the root causes of this divide—through debt reform, climate justice, digital inclusion, and greater representation—the international community can build a more equitable order. The stakes are high: without bold action, the promise of human rights for all risks becoming a hollow aspiration, lost to the fractures of a divided world. The current session in Geneva, and the global dialogues it inspires, will test whether leaders can rise to this challenge or allow inequality to claim another generation’s rights.
