Inequality threatens human security: Kailash Satyarthi

The huge inequality of income across the world was threatening peace and security of the human race, says Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

The widening gap in livelihood was a form of economic violence, he said, addressing the 136th conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Dhaka.

Few years ago, a CEO in America used to make what 20 of his workers earned together, he said. “The current difference is 1:200.”

The world’s eight richest billionaires control the same wealth between them as the poorest half of the globe’s population, Satyarthi said citing a report from Oxfam.

“And the gap is widening.”

“As we hold this meeting, 270 million children are not attending school and 21 million people are being sold to slavery. This is unacceptable, this cannot be tolerated.” 

Satyarthi, children’s rights and education advocate from India, won the Nobel Peace Prize with Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai in 2014. 

As the keynote speaker for the opening session of the IPU assembly, Satyarthi delivered an impromptu speech during the session chaired by Bangladesh Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

The theme of this year’s IPU assembly is “Redressing Inequalities: Delivering on Dignity and Well-Being for All”.