Overview
The functional universality of human rights depends on human rights that provide attractive remedies for some of the most pressing systematic threats to human dignity. In today's society, where the world is dominated by modern markets and states, human rights remain the only proven effective means to assure human dignity (Donelly,p.97). Some of these rights include social, cultural, and economic rights. These are the basic human rights that involve the conditions needed to live a life with “adequate food, housing, education, to social security, to take part in cultural life, to water and sanitation, and to work.” Due to the rise of the urban working class in the 19th century, economic and social rights began to make substantial headway in the history of human rights. The necessity for economic, social, and cultural rights arose from the recognition that they fulfill essential elements of human welfare and honor, which have frequently been disregarded or transgressed in the past. During the early industrialization era, the political struggles resulted in defining and understanding the meaning of conditions necessary for a life of dignity. Recognition of cultural, economic and social rights became important as society promised to feed its citizens during the difficult 1900s.This was a time of social hardship and many individuals faced hardship, inadequate working conditions, lack of educational opportunities for children, basic needs or safe houses or and did not have adequate access. The call for economic, social, and cultural rights arose in light of the obstacles presented by poverty, inequality, and limited access to fundamental needs. These rights are crucial in upholding human dignity, mitigating disparities, and constructing an equitable and compassionate community that values the welfare of each individual. After World War II, the world decided that things needed to be improved. They founded the United Nations and drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This declaration stated that everyone should have the right to work, education and a decent life and this led to the global recognition of these rights. In 1966, the United Nations made another major commitment, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). This made it clear in the pledge that states must protect these rights and ensure that people have access to adequate services, education and health care.
Analyzing the Emergence of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- In 1948, the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) marked one of the biggest milestones in the history of human rights. It played a big role in declaring human rights to be universally recognized. (1)
What are Economic, Social and Cultural Rights? And its emergence…
- These are basic human rights that involve the conditions needed to live a life with “adequate food, housing, education, to social security, to take part in cultural life, to water and sanitation, and to work.” (4)
- In 1966, ESCR were recognized as legal rights in the ICESCR. (4)
- Freedom from discrimination
- Right to equality between men and women
- Right to work
- Freedom to choose and accept work
- Right to just and favourable conditions at work
- Right to form trade unions
- Right to strike
- Right to social security
- Right of mothers to special protection before and after birth
- Freedom of children from social and economic exploitation
- Right to an adequate standard of living
- Freedom from hunger
- Right to health
- Right to education
- Freedom of parents to choose schooling for their children
- Right to take part in cultural life
- Right to enjoy benefits of science
- Right of authors to moral and material interests from works
- Freedom to undertake scientific research and creative activity
- With the great depression being the biggest economic downturn in all of time due to poverty and unemployment everywhere, many individuals faced the struggles of meeting their basic needs. It was an injustice that society had no social security in meeting their needs.
- Labor: Many demanded more jobs, while some were fortunate to even have a job but experienced a cutback in working hours (5). Many movements were
- New Deal (Roosevelt): The new deal was Roosevelt's response to the Great Depression. It was set in order to make economic and social changes. The goal was to finally bring up the economy once again through a richer society.
- All over the world, many countries had begun to recognize the impact of
- 1930s: Unemployed Workers Movement in the United States
- A movement led by Harry McShane and organized by Wal Hannington in an attempt to raise money for those in poverty.
- Post World War II
- Reconstruction after the War:
International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- “Aims to ensure the protection of economic, social and cultural rights.” (2)
- As of now, there are currently 171 parties who have signed the ICESCR. (8)
Key Events that have impacted these rights
- COVID-19
- When the pandemic hit, millions of jobs were affected and many people weren’t able to work. This increased the rise in poverty all over the world, in 2021 the estimate was around 119 and 124 million people. (3)
- North Korean Famine (late 1990s): Many citizens died from this catastrophe. According to Natsios, he estimated that between 2.5 million and 3.5 may have died (7).
- Right to Food: They heavily relied on agriculture to produce their food, but due to heavy rainstorms for several days, too much of their crops had been flooded by water. North Koreans were denied access to food and forced to find food elsewhere to feed their families.