Haiti

According to Haitians, poverty is primarily a symptom of underlying harmful values that motivate human behavior such as prejudice, cultural attitudes, corruption and greed. Conversely, wealth is seen as a state of physical and mental well-being, equality and security. In Haiti, some of the causes of poverty are over-population, lack of family planning, instability, lack of agricultural incentives that result in rural exodus, lack of education and skill-building, and absence of the rule of law. Women and girls experience poverty differently from men and boys due to early pregnancy, domestic violence and the lack of education. Both governments and individuals are seen as responsible for eradicating poverty. Efforts to eradicate poverty must include access to material and spiritual education, incentives for agriculture in rural areas and adequate work that provides a means to achieve self-subsistence. “All things that constitute human well-being are human rights” and poverty is a violation of those rights. Participants noted that there is a reciprocal responsibility to protect human rights; all are responsible for the eradication of poverty.

Other country summaries: Brazil, Guyana,  India, Namibia, Turkey