Economic, social and cultural rights facts for kids

Economic, social and cultural rights are a special part of human rights. These rights make sure that everyone has what they need to live a good life. They help people get an education, find work, have a safe home, and stay healthy.

Many countries around the world have agreed to protect these rights. They signed an important United Nations agreement called the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This agreement makes sure that these rights are legally protected for everyone.

Some examples of these important rights include:

• The right to education, which means everyone should be able to go to school.
• The right to work in a safe place, with fair pay.
• The right to strike. This means workers can stop working together if they need better pay or safer conditions.
• The right to housing, so everyone has a safe place to live.
• The right to Social Security, which helps people when they are sick, old, or cannot work.
• The right to be healthy and get medical care.
• The right to an adequate standard of living. This means having enough water, food, clothing, and a safe home.

These rights were first listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But they were put into a separate agreement to make sure countries would make them laws.

Why These Rights Are Important

These rights are very important for a fair and just society. They help make sure everyone has a chance to succeed and live with dignity. Without these rights, many people would struggle to meet their basic needs.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was created separately from another agreement called the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This was done to show how important economic, social, and cultural rights are. Even though they were separated, all human rights are connected.

The Vienna Declaration states that all human rights are universal. This means they apply to everyone, everywhere. It also says that human rights cannot be divided. They must all be protected equally.

Related pages

• Human rights
• Civil rights
• Digital rights
• International human rights law

See also

In Spanish: Derechos económicos, sociales y culturales para niños