A Cornerstone of Human Rights, Daily Brief, 4 October, 2023

Social security is one of the cornerstones of human rights.

I have a feeling some readers might view this as a controversial statement, but it really isn’t.

The concept of social security – provided through a set of public policies and programs often known as social protection – is enshrined in numerous legally binding international treaties.

The general aim is to ensure income security throughout an individual’s life, offering support during key moments: childbirth, old age, illness, disability, and unemployment. It’s also there to address exceptional circumstances that elevate the risk of income insecurity, like natural disasters.

It makes sense to call social security a “cornerstone” of human rights, because so many other rights rely on it. Think of the rights to education and health. Protecting people against personal losses or losses due to shocks helps parents keep their children in school and improves access to health care.

Even the enjoyment of political rights can depend on it. You don’t have much time to exercise your right to free speech, for example, if you’re spending every waking minute trying to find food for your family.

Unfortunately, even when they recognize the value and importance of social protection, governments and international financial institutions often go about it the wrong way. Many maintain social security approaches that have proven faulty time and time again. And in this, they fail human rights.

This newsletter looked at the specific example of the International Monetary Fund last week and the harm caused by austerity programs put in place as a condition of IMF loans. That’s just one part of the problem.

More broadly, many governments rely on social security programs that are means-tested. Eligibility hinges on narrow poverty indicators. It’s essentially a “poor relief” model used by Europe in the 19th century – and pushed by international financial institutions today.

When applied to lower-income countries, too many people are excluded. People can go hungry, fall behind on rent, or have crippling debt, but the social security formula still won’t recognize their need for support. It’s estimated that more than half of the global population lacks basic coverage.

Research also shows that means-tested social protection programs are often ineffective due to high error rates and corruption.

The right to social protection is enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Governments and international financial institutions need to adopt an approach of universal social protection based on the recognition of universal human rights.

Social security is a cornerstone of human rights, and social security systems should ensure everyone can receive protection from childhood to old age.