Barbados has joined an international coalition calling for the creation of a panel under the United Nations to examine global inequality, as concerns grow over the widening economic divide between developed and developing countries. The initiative comes amid mounting financial pressures, climate-related challenges, and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI).
Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced Barbados’ support on 14 October during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand. She stressed that reducing inequality is essential to tackling poverty, expanding employment opportunities, and addressing conflicts that continue to affect communities worldwide.
The proposed panel would bring together experts to study the causes and consequences of inequality and provide evidence-based recommendations to governments. Supporters hope to secure a resolution at the UN General Assembly to formally establish the body before the middle of 2027.
The initiative has gained backing from several countries, including Brazil, South Africa, Norway, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Iceland, Japan, and Bangladesh. According to Norway’s Minister of International Development, Asmund Aukrust, 15 countries had committed their support by 14 October, with further participation expected.
The proposal comes as developing economies face growing debt obligations, higher food and fuel costs, and concerns about unequal access to emerging technologies. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has also warned that advances in AI, combined with declining development assistance, could widen the gap between richer and poorer economies.
The idea gained further momentum during discussions at the UN General Assembly in September. According to The Guardian, supporters envisage a panel modelled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which assesses scientific evidence and helps governments understand climate-related risks. A similar body could provide governments with independent research to guide decisions on taxation, social protection, and economic development.
For Barbados, supporting the initiative reflects its broader efforts to ensure that smaller and climate-vulnerable nations have a stronger voice in global economic discussions. However, the panel’s establishment would be just the initial step, as its eventual influence relies on international cooperation and governments’ readiness to act on its findings.
