The Right To Social Security

The right to social security guaranteeing that everyone regardless of age or ability to work is guaranteed the means necessary to procure basic needs and services.

The right to social security is protected in:

Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights
Article 26 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Article 5 of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Articles 11& 14 of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
Article 16 of American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man

In addition, there are United Nations committees made up of experts that oversee the implementation of particular human rights treaties (these committees are known as treaty bodies). These committees oversee the treaties by, among other things, receiving government reports on the implementation of the treaties, making comments to the government reports, and issuing general comments about the treaties or specific right contained therein.

There is no general comment on the right to social security generally, but the Committee on Economic and Social Rights did address the right to social security within general comments on persons with disabilities and older persons. The United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, see excerpt of general comment 5 & excerpt of general comment 6.