A/HRC/13/38 from the Government of Morocco as well as from the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights emphasized that migrants also face increased discrimination and xenophobia in addition to unemployment. The Government of Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) indicated that the crisis has had an impact on articles 13, 16, 17, 22, 23, 25 and 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 8. Generally, the crisis and the global economic slowdown associated with it, has the potential to impact on human rights directly and indirectly, including on the ability of individuals to exercise and claim their rights and on the ability of States to fulfil their obligations. The World Bank has estimated that 89 million more people could be pushed below the poverty line of US$ 1.25 a day by the end of 2010,5 and many other reports have also pointed to the potential of the crisis for slowing down progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, which are important milestones and benchmarks for the realization of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights. While poverty exists in both developed and developing countries, many of the poorest countries lack the necessary means to protect their people from exogenous shocks, while at the same time facing difficulties in mobilizing additional resources. 9. The reports have also raised the increase in unemployment as an issue of major concern. The International Labour Organization (ILO) stated that unless adequate measures are adopted and in some cases continued, more than 40 million people could drop out of the labour market.6 In its “World of Work Report 2009: The Global Jobs Crisis and Beyond”, the ILO indicated that “employment in high GDP per-capita countries may not return to pre-crisis levels before 2013. In emerging and developing countries, employment levels could start recovering from 2010.”7 The report also indicated that, based on experience from earlier crises, the risk of unemployment is especially acute for low-skilled and older workers. 10. Longer-term effects, such as unemployment and an increase in poverty, can directly affect the ability of a country to levy taxes. This can result in decreased budgetary resources, endangering social spending and the progressive realization of a number of economic and social rights. The independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, has stated that “countries which are already struggling to fulfil their basic human rights obligations will face increasingly difficult obstacles as national funds grow scarce, and conditions for contracting loans grow increasingly stringent”.8 B. Economic, social and cultural rights 11. The impact of the crisis on economic, social and cultural rights has been highlighted by the Human Rights Council special procedures mandate holders and United Nations agencies. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimated in its 2009 report, entitled “The State of Food Insecurity in the World: Economic crises – 5 6 7 8 6 See http://www.worldbank.org/financialcrisis/. International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Institute for Labour Studies, World of Work Report 2009. The Global Jobs Crisis and Beyond, p. viii. Ibid., p. 2. Statement to the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development, p. 1, available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/development/debt/ docs/GAConferenceFinancialCrisis24Jun09.doc. GE.10-10930