Current human rights debate largely centres on the role of individual states in eradicating poverty either through reform in developing states, or through development assistance provided by developed states. This paper argues that international human rights law should also analyse the role of how international institutions and legal rules contribute to global poverty. It argues in favour of an obligation, founded within existing international law, for states to work towards reforming international legal rules that may cause or exacerbate poverty.

Keywords: Poverty, International law, Institutional Reform