What Is the Meaning of Socioeconomic Rights?

The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights included many socioeconomic rights

"Socioeconomic rights" is a shorthand term for economic, social and cultural human rights. Fourteen rights in this category are included in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed and ratified in 1948, and elaborated on in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Rights

The 14 rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are the right to work, the right to choice of employment, the right to own property, right to adequate standards of living, right to access to education, right to start a family, right to respect and protection of family, right to social security, right to social and medical assistance, right to adequate nutrition, right to social welfare benefits, right to enjoyment of scientific advancement, right to protection of health and right to protection of morals.

Recognition

A number of governments officially recognized socioeconomic rights beginning in the early 1900s. The Mexican Constitution of 1917, following the Mexican Revolution, revolutionized the rights written into constitutions by adding such socioeconomic rights as public education (Article 3) and an eight-hour workday (Article 123). In 1948, the recently-created United Nations enshrined socioeconomic rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Many nations have incorporated part or all of the Declaration into their constitutions, and more have created legislation that realizes such rights.

Generational Rights

Socioeconomic rights contrast with civil and political rights. Karel Vasak's theory of generational rights deems civil and political rights as first generation rights, and socioeconomic rights as second generation (third generation rights are still undefined). The U.S. Bill of Rights and the French Rights of Man outline many of the classic civil and political rights, such as freedom of assembly, right to vote and freedom from political persecution. Socioeconomic rights gained traction through unions and socialism in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Positive and Negative Rights

Socioeconomic rights can be called "positive rights" because they require that a government does something or contributes resources (for example, fund food assistance programs, establish public education or public health clinics). In comparison, civil and political rights typically require a government to refrain from repressive actions (such as allow people to assemble or allow political dissidence), and thus are sometimes called "negative rights".

Enforcement

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has no enforcement mechanism, and the nations that signed on are responsible for devising their own, which happens with widely varying degrees of success. For example, in the United States, socioeconomic rights are provided through legislation and resulting government programs. Some, such as public education and Social Security, have become traditions, whereas others, such as public health care, raise bitter debates.

References

• United Nations Treaty Collection: Human Rights
• Basic Rights; Henry Shue; 1996
• 1917 Mexican Constitution: Individual Guarantees