The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, is currently in the United Kingdom investigating government efforts to eradicate poverty in the country, and how this relates to the United Kingdom’s obligations under international human rights law. His fact-finding mission began on November 5, 2018, and runs through November 16, 2018.

His two-week visit includes travel to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and visit Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Essex, Glasgow, Jaywick, London, and Newcastle where he has and will meet with government officials, including at the devolved and local level, to discuss government efforts to eradicate poverty. He will also meet with individuals affected by poverty to hear about their experiences and with civil society organizations working on poverty and human rights, academics, and national human rights institutions.

The Special Rapporteur will share his preliminary observations and recommendations at a press conference to be held at the end of his mission on November 16, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. GMT at the International Maritime Organisation in London (4, Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SR). He will also issue a press release and end of mission statement that day. The press conference will be live streamed on Facebook. The Special Rapporteur’s final report on his visit to the United Kingdom will be available in spring 2019 and will be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2019.

Learn more about the UK mission and Professor Alston’s work as the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.