Basic Income as a fundamental Human Right in the People and Planet paradigm – Basic Income in a truly democratic and sustainable ethos

Álvaro J. de Regil

Commentary as part of the Roundtable discussion on Kathryn Sikkink’s piece on human rights: “Human Rights: Advancing the Frontier of Emancipation,” organised by the Great Transition Initiative. De Regil contributes the following brief, particularly from the perspective of a universal basic income as an economic right. In case you are not familiar with the concept, the universal basic income is a cash allowance, unconditionally granted to all on an individual basis, including children, without means test or work requirement to fulfil their basic needs for the simple reason of existing. Kathryn Sikkink’s main argument in her essay is that human rights play a key role in the transformation that we need to build a just and flourishing future. The author agrees, but argues that for human rights to play a key role in the transformation of societies, we must work to create a radical tectonic shift to build a completely new paradigm.


For a full read of this essay, click here or on the picture to download the pdf file.