Definition of social rights

Human rights, divided in social and economic rights, are concerned with basic human needs: food, shelter, water and the means to provide those things for oneself and based on principles of dignity and freedom and this same principles are compromised when human beings cannot meet their fundamental needs. Social and economic rights are recognized in many international documents about human rights. Social and economic rights include:

• the right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food, clothing and housing;

• the right to food, guaranteeing freedom from hunger and access to safe and nutritious food;

• the right to housing, ensuring access to a safe, secure, habitable, and affordable home with freedom from forced eviction;

• the right to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, including access to care, nutrition and clean water and air;

• the right to education, enabling all persons to participate effectively in a free society and is directed to the full development of the human personality;

• the right to social security guaranteeing that everyone regardless of age or ability to work has the means necessary to procure basic needs and services;

• the right of everyone to form trade unions and join a trade union;

• the right to social security guaranteeing that everyone regardless of age or ability to work has the means necessary to procure basic needs and services;

• the right to work guaranteeing the opportunity to have fulfilling and dignified work under safe and healthy conditions with fair wages affording a decent living for oneself and one's family. It also provides for freedom from unemployment and the right to organize.