Frequently Asked Questions on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

This is a comprehensive guide on economic and social rights. The paper defines the rights, explains their importance, and how they compare to civil and political rights. The paper explores the nature of states’ obligations with respect to these rights (i.e. their progressive realization), and looks at how gender intersects with these rights and the ways in which these rights may be violated. It also looks at the impact of these rights on the welfare state and private provision of essential goods and services, among other things. It also describes the role of national actors in promoting and protecting these rights, and explains the monitoring mechanisms currently in place to help enforce these rights. Discussed throughout the paper is the role constitutions play in promoting and protecting these rights.