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csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission TRAINING ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission About the Human Rights Concept History of development of human rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights Economic, Social and Cultural Rights csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission Sharing Session Do you have personal experiences related to (limitations of) Social Rights? Are you aware of events or cases of other persons or religious organisations related to this issue? Which issues play a role in discussions in your society in which the wish to restrict or defend this freedom is at stake? csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission What do we mean by: Economic Rights Social Rights Cultural rights? csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission What are the Present Challenges related to Social Rights in Society? Dominant economic model: growth model Inequality and discrimination Poverty csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission Theological Reflection Human beings are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Legal traditions in the Bible are focusing on the responsibility to care for the weak. The prophets of the Old Testament reclaim the aim to achieve social justice (Mal 3:5). Failure of social duty towards the vulnerable results in disaster for the community. Jesus widens the principles by narrowing them down to the double commandment to love God and the neighbour. (Mat 22:37-40). The rich should treat the poor with dignity. (Lk 16:19-31). Jesus comes to bring good news to the poor. (Lk 4:18). csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality. csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission What do we mean by Social Rights? Right to housing Right to Health Care Right to Education Right to an adequate standard of living Right to work Right to social security csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission What is ‘Social Justice’? The concept of social justice Inequality Damage to society as a whole csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission The Relationship between Social Rights and Full Participation in Society Social injustice has thus (at least) two distinct dimensions: Maldistribution – this is usually defined as faulty distribution or apportionment, as of resources over an area or among a group; Misrecognition - this is usually defined as 'misrecognition' of the true relations between the structure of that field and the structures of economic and political power – not really being aware of an existing relationship. csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission Legal Tools related to Social Rights UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) The revised Social Charter of the Council of Europe The European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission When and Why Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are Violated by the State The most significant explanation of the violation of economic, social and cultural rights comes from the Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Maastricht, January 22-26, 1997, which were aiming to build on the Limburg Principles of 1986. csc.ceceurope.org Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission European Convention on Human Rights Civil and political rights v social and economic rights: Right to property Right to education Article 3: Prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment csc.ceceurope.org