Kartik Raj
@kartikraj.bsky.social
Work @hrw.org on poverty, inequality, social security, human rights in Europe
Migrant. Parent. Pedant. Anorak. #dadjokes. He/him.
Barcelona-based.
Work output here: https://www.hrw.org/about/people/kartik-raj
Migrant. Parent. Pedant. Anorak. #dadjokes. He/him.
Barcelona-based.
Work output here: https://www.hrw.org/about/people/kartik-raj
Good riddance to rubbish policy.
The end to the UK's "two child limit" social security policy has been announced, and it will soon be gone.
We @hrw.org welcome the news, as one of many, many, many voices calling for an end to this arbitrary, cruel social security policy.
The end to the UK's "two child limit" social security policy has been announced, and it will soon be gone.
We @hrw.org welcome the news, as one of many, many, many voices calling for an end to this arbitrary, cruel social security policy.
November 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Good riddance to rubbish policy.
The end to the UK's "two child limit" social security policy has been announced, and it will soon be gone.
We @hrw.org welcome the news, as one of many, many, many voices calling for an end to this arbitrary, cruel social security policy.
The end to the UK's "two child limit" social security policy has been announced, and it will soon be gone.
We @hrw.org welcome the news, as one of many, many, many voices calling for an end to this arbitrary, cruel social security policy.
3/3 Köszönöm for the warmth with which you spoke with a stranger.
Warmth, yes, that’s a good word.
Warm like this bowl of húsleves (broth), and other warm soups—and the many warm cups of tea (which is actually more akin to warm fruit squash)—that my interpreter and I were given during the week.
Warmth, yes, that’s a good word.
Warm like this bowl of húsleves (broth), and other warm soups—and the many warm cups of tea (which is actually more akin to warm fruit squash)—that my interpreter and I were given during the week.
November 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
3/3 Köszönöm for the warmth with which you spoke with a stranger.
Warmth, yes, that’s a good word.
Warm like this bowl of húsleves (broth), and other warm soups—and the many warm cups of tea (which is actually more akin to warm fruit squash)—that my interpreter and I were given during the week.
Warmth, yes, that’s a good word.
Warm like this bowl of húsleves (broth), and other warm soups—and the many warm cups of tea (which is actually more akin to warm fruit squash)—that my interpreter and I were given during the week.
1/3 I’ve just returned home after a week interviewing older people on low pension incomes in Hungary for @hrw.org. The findings will be out in the coming months.
This photo is of an 80 year old woman showing me her notebook of expenses, in which every last forint is meticulously accounted for.
This photo is of an 80 year old woman showing me her notebook of expenses, in which every last forint is meticulously accounted for.
November 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
1/3 I’ve just returned home after a week interviewing older people on low pension incomes in Hungary for @hrw.org. The findings will be out in the coming months.
This photo is of an 80 year old woman showing me her notebook of expenses, in which every last forint is meticulously accounted for.
This photo is of an 80 year old woman showing me her notebook of expenses, in which every last forint is meticulously accounted for.
New briefing from @amnesty.org on unequal access to abortion across Europe (covering 40 countries) www.amnesty.org/en/documents...
"Abortion is essential healthcare and a human right." Too right. And yet too often denied.
"Abortion is essential healthcare and a human right." Too right. And yet too often denied.
November 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM
New briefing from @amnesty.org on unequal access to abortion across Europe (covering 40 countries) www.amnesty.org/en/documents...
"Abortion is essential healthcare and a human right." Too right. And yet too often denied.
"Abortion is essential healthcare and a human right." Too right. And yet too often denied.
Hungarian authorities are prosecuting a human rights defender filling the gaps left by its crumbling public services and social security system. Pastor Gábor Iványi, whose church supports people in poverty, faces absurd, politically-motivated charges. More from @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
November 7, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Hungarian authorities are prosecuting a human rights defender filling the gaps left by its crumbling public services and social security system. Pastor Gábor Iványi, whose church supports people in poverty, faces absurd, politically-motivated charges. More from @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Glad to join friends in the UK’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Network meeting with the Ministry of Justice today to follow up on the UN CESCR’s review earlier this year.
More here on the network: justfair.org.uk/campaigns-2/...
More here on the network: justfair.org.uk/campaigns-2/...
November 3, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Glad to join friends in the UK’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Network meeting with the Ministry of Justice today to follow up on the UN CESCR’s review earlier this year.
More here on the network: justfair.org.uk/campaigns-2/...
More here on the network: justfair.org.uk/campaigns-2/...
While my people may be celebrating Deepavali/Diwali, the festival of light today 🪔 , I’d like to extend warm greetings to anyone else who deals with data, tables, graphs and charts in their research on this auspicious day.
Happy World Statistics Day!
📊📈👨🏾💻🤓
Happy World Statistics Day!
📊📈👨🏾💻🤓
October 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
While my people may be celebrating Deepavali/Diwali, the festival of light today 🪔 , I’d like to extend warm greetings to anyone else who deals with data, tables, graphs and charts in their research on this auspicious day.
Happy World Statistics Day!
📊📈👨🏾💻🤓
Happy World Statistics Day!
📊📈👨🏾💻🤓
Die Pläne der deutschen Regierung zur Sozialstaatsreform sind schädlich für die Menschenrechte.
Hier habe ich vor ein paar Wochen, als wir noch auf die Nachricht warteten, versucht zu erklären, warum (via @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social)
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
Hier habe ich vor ein paar Wochen, als wir noch auf die Nachricht warteten, versucht zu erklären, warum (via @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social)
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
October 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Die Pläne der deutschen Regierung zur Sozialstaatsreform sind schädlich für die Menschenrechte.
Hier habe ich vor ein paar Wochen, als wir noch auf die Nachricht warteten, versucht zu erklären, warum (via @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social)
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
Hier habe ich vor ein paar Wochen, als wir noch auf die Nachricht warteten, versucht zu erklären, warum (via @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social)
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
The German government's plan for social security "reform" is bad news for #humanrights.
I tried to set out why for @hrw.org here, a couple of weeks back, as we awaited details of these plans:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
I tried to set out why for @hrw.org here, a couple of weeks back, as we awaited details of these plans:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
October 9, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The German government's plan for social security "reform" is bad news for #humanrights.
I tried to set out why for @hrw.org here, a couple of weeks back, as we awaited details of these plans:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
I tried to set out why for @hrw.org here, a couple of weeks back, as we awaited details of these plans:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
Sarah Akinterinwa on the conversations we're having about the British far right www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
September 27, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Sarah Akinterinwa on the conversations we're having about the British far right www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thank you @koldocasla.bsky.social and University of Essex and Barcelona colleagues, for the opportunity to discuss strategic litigation and other avenues to make progress in realizing ESC rights. Great to meet and work with @observadesca.bsky.social @rightohousing.bsky.social @gentium.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Thank you @koldocasla.bsky.social and University of Essex and Barcelona colleagues, for the opportunity to discuss strategic litigation and other avenues to make progress in realizing ESC rights. Great to meet and work with @observadesca.bsky.social @rightohousing.bsky.social @gentium.bsky.social
Germany’s chancellor: “No one in our country falls into poverty because they become unemployed.” („Niemand fällt in unserem Land in die Armut, weil er arbeitslos wird.”)
Lived experience of unemployment benefits strongly suggests otherwise.
Screengrabs via @sanktionsfrei.bsky.social
Lived experience of unemployment benefits strongly suggests otherwise.
Screengrabs via @sanktionsfrei.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Germany’s chancellor: “No one in our country falls into poverty because they become unemployed.” („Niemand fällt in unserem Land in die Armut, weil er arbeitslos wird.”)
Lived experience of unemployment benefits strongly suggests otherwise.
Screengrabs via @sanktionsfrei.bsky.social
Lived experience of unemployment benefits strongly suggests otherwise.
Screengrabs via @sanktionsfrei.bsky.social
Und hier auf Deutsch:
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
Streit um Sozialreformen: In Deutschland drohen die Menschenrechte auf der Strecke zu bleiben
Kürzungen werden einkommensschwache Haushalte treffen – Armut wird zunehmen.
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
Streit um Sozialreformen: In Deutschland drohen die Menschenrechte auf der Strecke zu bleiben
Kürzungen werden einkommensschwache Haushalte treffen – Armut wird zunehmen.
September 19, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Und hier auf Deutsch:
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
Streit um Sozialreformen: In Deutschland drohen die Menschenrechte auf der Strecke zu bleiben
Kürzungen werden einkommensschwache Haushalte treffen – Armut wird zunehmen.
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
Streit um Sozialreformen: In Deutschland drohen die Menschenrechte auf der Strecke zu bleiben
Kürzungen werden einkommensschwache Haushalte treffen – Armut wird zunehmen.
Germany’s government is set to make major social security cuts, and replace the only recently-created “Citizen’s Income” with a more punitive “New Income for Jobseekers”.
These plans will increase poverty.
Human rights can help guide the debate back to what matters.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
These plans will increase poverty.
Human rights can help guide the debate back to what matters.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
September 19, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Germany’s government is set to make major social security cuts, and replace the only recently-created “Citizen’s Income” with a more punitive “New Income for Jobseekers”.
These plans will increase poverty.
Human rights can help guide the debate back to what matters.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
These plans will increase poverty.
Human rights can help guide the debate back to what matters.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
FCDO civil servants start ordering bunting to keep up with the zeitgeist.
September 5, 2025 at 4:07 PM
FCDO civil servants start ordering bunting to keep up with the zeitgeist.
Transit sustenance in Frankfurt.
Where the wurst is the best.
Where the wurst is the best.
August 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Transit sustenance in Frankfurt.
Where the wurst is the best.
Where the wurst is the best.
Back in Germany. Will never really understand the fascination here with this genre of TV program - documenting life on a low income with cliched, stereotyped representations. It transforms social rights failures into light entertainment, absolving the policies & structures that give rise to poverty.
August 27, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Back in Germany. Will never really understand the fascination here with this genre of TV program - documenting life on a low income with cliched, stereotyped representations. It transforms social rights failures into light entertainment, absolving the policies & structures that give rise to poverty.
❤️💚🤍 www.newport-county.co.uk/news/newport... - what a lovely way to mark the life and contribution of these refugee kids from the Spanish Civil War - the Basque children of 1937 (4,000 in total sought refuge in Britain, how we could learn from those times)
www.newport-county.co.uk/news/newport...
www.newport-county.co.uk/news/newport...
July 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
❤️💚🤍 www.newport-county.co.uk/news/newport... - what a lovely way to mark the life and contribution of these refugee kids from the Spanish Civil War - the Basque children of 1937 (4,000 in total sought refuge in Britain, how we could learn from those times)
www.newport-county.co.uk/news/newport...
www.newport-county.co.uk/news/newport...
Ps. The key is how you interpret the label and work around it, while complying formally with the printed instruction. See, for example.
July 11, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Ps. The key is how you interpret the label and work around it, while complying formally with the printed instruction. See, for example.
Here is Dr @francesryan.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/fran...
(Cant get ALT to work here in the screenshot, but her original post is embedded, and text viewable there)
(Cant get ALT to work here in the screenshot, but her original post is embedded, and text viewable there)
July 9, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Here is Dr @francesryan.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/fran...
(Cant get ALT to work here in the screenshot, but her original post is embedded, and text viewable there)
(Cant get ALT to work here in the screenshot, but her original post is embedded, and text viewable there)
July 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
LINKS HERE
Summary in K'iche'. Full report available in Spanish and English.
“We maj Ja’, Maj Qab’antajik”: www.hrw.org/sites/defaul...
“Sin agua, no somos nada”: www.hrw.org/es/report/20...
“Without Water, We Are Nothing”: www.hrw.org/report/2025/...
Summary in K'iche'. Full report available in Spanish and English.
“We maj Ja’, Maj Qab’antajik”: www.hrw.org/sites/defaul...
“Sin agua, no somos nada”: www.hrw.org/es/report/20...
“Without Water, We Are Nothing”: www.hrw.org/report/2025/...
July 8, 2025 at 9:22 PM
LINKS HERE
Summary in K'iche'. Full report available in Spanish and English.
“We maj Ja’, Maj Qab’antajik”: www.hrw.org/sites/defaul...
“Sin agua, no somos nada”: www.hrw.org/es/report/20...
“Without Water, We Are Nothing”: www.hrw.org/report/2025/...
Summary in K'iche'. Full report available in Spanish and English.
“We maj Ja’, Maj Qab’antajik”: www.hrw.org/sites/defaul...
“Sin agua, no somos nada”: www.hrw.org/es/report/20...
“Without Water, We Are Nothing”: www.hrw.org/report/2025/...
9/15 Analysis by @jrf-uk.bsky.social also highlights a key flaw in a the premise of the entire exercise.
Ostensibly the aim of cutting the health-related part of Universal Credit and making PIP harder to get is to move disabled people into work.
The problem? ... the jobs aren't there.
Ostensibly the aim of cutting the health-related part of Universal Credit and making PIP harder to get is to move disabled people into work.
The problem? ... the jobs aren't there.
July 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
9/15 Analysis by @jrf-uk.bsky.social also highlights a key flaw in a the premise of the entire exercise.
Ostensibly the aim of cutting the health-related part of Universal Credit and making PIP harder to get is to move disabled people into work.
The problem? ... the jobs aren't there.
Ostensibly the aim of cutting the health-related part of Universal Credit and making PIP harder to get is to move disabled people into work.
The problem? ... the jobs aren't there.