Developing the Right to Social Security - A Gender Perspective

Présentation de l'éditeur : "The right to social security, found in international law and in the constitutions of many nations, contributes to the alleviation of poverty globally. Social security and its articulation as a human right have received increased attention in recent years both in response to austerity cuts to welfare in developed countries and as a means of lifting millions out of poverty in developing countries. Women, disproportionately affected by poverty in all parts of the world, stand to gain from a right to social security that takes cognisance of gender discrimination and disadvantage. This book interprets and redefines the right to social security from a gender perspective. Drawing on feminist theory, the book formulates a conceptual approach and a set of principles for a substantively equal, gendered right to social security. In so doing, it challenges the relationship between the right to social security and traditional conceptions of work that exclude women's labour including their caring roles. It argues that the right must have application at the transnational level if it is to address the changing nature of women's work due to globalisation. The book applies the framework and principles it develops to a study of international law focusing on the work of key United Nations human rights bodies. It also demonstrates the value of this framework in its analysis of three countries' social security programmes - South Africa, Australia and India. In combining feminist thought on the nature of work and care with equality theories in developing the right to social security from a gender perspective this book expands the capacity of the right to advance gender equality and address gendered poverty." Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 13 Abbreviations 14 1 Introduction: gender, poverty, social security and rights 16 1.1 Gender, poverty and discrimination 17 1.1.1 Women's poverty in global context 17 1.1.2 Gender discrimination underlying poverty 19 1.2 Objectives ana definitions of social security 21 1.2.1 The origins, prevalence, nature ana purpose of social security 21 1.2.2 Concepts ana terms 23 1.2.3 Defining the right to social security 24 1.3 Gender and social security 25 1.4 The role of human rights 29 1.5 Research approach ana decisions 32 1.5.1 Research approach 32 1.5.2 Research methods 34 1.5.3 Research choices: international law chapter 34 1.5.4 Research choices: country studies 35 1.5.5 Research cut-off date 37 1.6 Chapter outline 37 2 A gender perspective: conceptual approach and principles 39 2.1 Introduction 39 2.2 A gender perspective 40 2.3 The relationship between the right to social security and 'work' 46 2.3.1 Changing nature of work 47 2.3.2 Women and work 47 2.3.3 Rethinking 'work' 48 2.4 The right to social security at different levels 51 2.5 Using equality to develop the right to social security 54 2.5.1 Equality as a human right 54 2.5.2 Substantive equality 56 2.5.3 Transformative substantive equality 58 2.5.4 Multiple and intersectional discrimination 60 2.6 Interdependence - a role for other rights 61 2.7 Developing the right to social security from a gender perspective 62 2.7.1 Principles for a substantively equal, gendered right to social security 64 2.8 Conclusion 66 3 The right to social security in international law: a gendered consideration 67 3.1 Introduction 67 3.2 History and sources of the right 67 3.2.1 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 68 3.2.2 The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 69 3.2.3 Other sources of the right 70 3.3 The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 74 3.3.1 The Convention 75 3.3.2 The CEDAW Committee 79 3.3.3 Assessment of CEDAW 86 3.4 The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 87 3.4.1 The International Covenant 87 3.4.2 The CESCR 89 3.4.3 Assessment of the ICESCR and the CESCR 106 3.5 The International Labour Organisation 107 3.5.1 Background 107 3.5.2 The Social Protection Floor Recommendation (R202) 109 3.5.3 Assessment of the ILO 112 3.6 The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights 113 3.6.1 Gender and social protection in the work of the Special Rapporteur 113 3.6.2 Assessment of the Special Rapporteur 116 3.7 Conclusion 116 4 South African country study 118 4.1 Introduction 118 4.2 South Africa's social security system 119 4.3 Gender in the South African social security system 121 4.4 South African's human rights framework and the right to social security 122 4.5 The Child Support Grant - meeting women's social security rights? 125 4.5.1 Description of the CSG 125 4.5.2 Background to the CSG 126 4.5.3 Issues in implementation and administration of the CSG 126 4.5.4 Lack of a grant for parents 128 4.5.5 Negative discourse around the CSG 130 4.5.6 Evaluation of the CSG 131 4.6 The introduction of conditionality into the CSG 132 4.6.1 Debates around conditionality 133 4.6.2 New conditions attached to the CSG 136 4.7 Conclusion - addressing the gaps 139 5 Australian country study 142 5.1 Introduction 142 5.2 Australia's social security system 143 5.3 Gender in the Australian social security system 144 5.4 Australia's human rights framework and the right to social security 148 5.5 Parenting Payments cuts 150 5.5.1 History of Parenting Payment 150 5.5.2 The 2012 cuts 151 5.5.3 Initial response to cuts 152 5.5.4 The human rights response 153 5.5.5 Discussion of report of Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights 154 5.5.6 Involvement of UN Special Rapporteur 155 5.5.7 Discussion 157 5.6 Income management 158 5.6.1 Background 158 5.6.2 Response to the measures 160 5.6.3 Gender analysis 161 5.6.4 Discussion:gender rights analysis 162 5.7 Conclusion 164 6 Indian country study 166 6.1 Introduction 166 6.2 India's social security system 167 6.2.1 The formal sector 168 6.2.2 The unorganised sector, the unemployed and others facing poverty 168 6.3 Gender, poverty and the need for social security in India 172 6.3.1 The nature of women's poverty and disadvantage 172 6.3.2 Women's employment profile 173 6.3.3 Inadequate social security 174 6.3.4 Private/collective social security 174 6.4 India's human rights framework and the right to social security 175 6.4.1 International treaties 175 6.4.2 Constitutional rights 176 6.4.3 The courts 176 6.4.4 Rights-based legislation 178 6.4.5 Conclusion 179 6.5 National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) 179 6.5.1 Dimensions of the NSAP 179 6.5.2 Recommendations for reform 180 6.5.3 Legislation and the courts 181 6.5.4 Evaluation 182 6.6 The Mahatma Ghanai National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(NREGA) 186 6.6.1 History 186 6.6.2 The Act 186 6.6.3 Implementation 187 6.6.4 Right to work and social security 187 6.6.5 Positive features 189 6.6.6 Problematic features 190 6.6.7 Evaluation of NREGA 192 6.7 Conclusion 194 7 Conclusion 196 7.1 Introduction 196 7.2 Theoretical approach and principles: policy implications 197 7.2.1 Unemployment: implications of Principle 5 200 7.2.2 Reproductive and care work v other unpaid work: implications of Principles 1 and 2 201 7.2.3 Reproduction: implications of Principles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 201 7.2.4 The State's role in the provision of care: implications of Principle 1 202 7.3 International law 203 7.4 Thematic analysis of country studies 205 7.4.1 The importance of a gender perspective 206 7.4.2 The value of a rights framework 207 7.4.3 Understanding women's work and care 208 7.4.4 Pour-dimensional substantive equality 210 7.4.5 Intersectionality 211 7.4.6 Conditional social security 213 7.4.7 Social security at different levels 214 7.4.8 Social security and other rights 214 7.5 Value of the 'gender-developed' right to social security 215 7.6 Conclusion 217 Bibliography 218 Books 218 Book chapters 220 Edited books 225 Journal articles 226 Electronic articles 232 Newspaper articles 233 Reports 234 Theses 236 Web pages 236 Other sources 238 Legal sources 238 Index 247 Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 14 1 Introduction: gender, poverty, social security and rights......Page 16 1.1.1 Women's poverty in global context......Page 17 1.1.2 Gender discrimination underlying poverty......Page 19 1.2.1 The origins, prevalence, nature ana purpose of social security......Page 21 1.2.2 Concepts ana terms......Page 23 1.2.3 Defining the right to social security......Page 24 1.3 Gender and social security......Page 25 1.4 The role of human rights......Page 29 1.5.1 Research approach......Page 32 1.5.3 Research choices: international law chapter......Page 34 1.5.4 Research choices: country studies......Page 35 1.6 Chapter outline......Page 37 2.1 Introduction......Page 39 2.2 A gender perspective......Page 40 2.3 The relationship between the right to social security and 'work'......Page 46 2.3.2 Women and work......Page 47 2.3.3 Rethinking 'work'......Page 48 2.4 The right to social security at different levels......Page 51 2.5.1 Equality as a human right......Page 54 2.5.2 Substantive equality......Page 56 2.5.3 Transformative substantive equality......Page 58 2.5.4 Multiple and intersectional discrimination......Page 60 2.6 Interdependence - a role for other rights......Page 61 2.7 Developing the right to social security from a gender perspective......Page 62 2.7.1 Principles for a substantively equal, gendered right to social security......Page 64 2.8 Conclusion......Page 66 3.2 History and sources of the right......Page 67 3.2.1 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights......Page 68 3.2.2 The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights......Page 69 3.2.3 Other sources of the right......Page 70 3.3 The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women......Page 74 3.3.1 The Convention......Page 75 3.3.2 The CEDAW Committee......Page 79 3.3.3 Assessment of CEDAW......Page 86 3.4.1 The International Covenant......Page 87 3.4.2 The CESCR......Page 89 3.4.3 Assessment of the ICESCR and the CESCR......Page 106 3.5.1 Background......Page 107 3.5.2 The Social Protection Floor Recommendation (R202)......Page 109 3.5.3 Assessment of the ILO......Page 112 3.6.1 Gender and social protection in the work of the Special Rapporteur......Page 113 3.7 Conclusion......Page 116 4.1 Introduction......Page 118 4.2 South Africa's social security system......Page 119 4.3 Gender in the South African social security system......Page 121 4.4 South African's human rights framework and the right to social security......Page 122 4.5.1 Description of the CSG......Page 125 4.5.3 Issues in implementation and administration of the CSG......Page 126 4.5.4 Lack of a grant for parents......Page 128 4.5.5 Negative discourse around the CSG......Page 130 4.5.6 Evaluation of the CSG......Page 131 4.6 The introduction of conditionality into the CSG......Page 132 4.6.1 Debates around conditionality......Page 133 4.6.2 New conditions attached to the CSG......Page 136 4.7 Conclusion - addressing the gaps......Page 139 5.1 Introduction......Page 142 5.2 Australia's social security system......Page 143 5.3 Gender in the Australian social security system......Page 144 5.4 Australia's human rights framework and the right to social security......Page 148 5.5.1 History of Parenting Payment......Page 150 5.5.2 The 2012 cuts......Page 151 5.5.3 Initial response to cuts......Page 152 5.5.4 The human rights response......Page 153 5.5.5 Discussion of report of Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights......Page 154 5.5.6 Involvement of UN Special Rapporteur......Page 155 5.5.7 Discussion......Page 157 5.6.1 Background......Page 158 5.6.2 Response to the measures......Page 160 5.6.3 Gender analysis......Page 161 5.6.4 Discussion:gender rights analysis......Page 162 5.7 Conclusion......Page 164 6.1 Introduction......Page 166 6.2 India's social security system......Page 167 6.2.2 The unorganised sector, the unemployed and others facing poverty......Page 168 6.3.1 The nature of women's poverty and disadvantage......Page 172 6.3.2 Women's employment profile......Page 173 6.3.4 Private/collective social security......Page 174 6.4.1 International treaties......Page 175 6.4.3 The courts......Page 176 6.4.4 Rights-based legislation......Page 178 6.5.1 Dimensions of the NSAP......Page 179 6.5.2 Recommendations for reform......Page 180 6.5.3 Legislation and the courts......Page 181 6.5.4 Evaluation......Page 182 6.6.2 The Act......Page 186 6.6.4 Right to work and social security......Page 187 6.6.5 Positive features......Page 189 6.6.6 Problematic features......Page 190 6.6.7 Evaluation of NREGA......Page 192 6.7 Conclusion......Page 194 7.1 Introduction......Page 196 7.2 Theoretical approach and principles: policy implications......Page 197 7.2.1 Unemployment: implications of Principle 5......Page 200 7.2.3 Reproduction: implications of Principles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5......Page 201 7.2.4 The State's role in the provision of care: implications of Principle 1......Page 202 7.3 International law......Page 203 7.4 Thematic analysis of country studies......Page 205 7.4.1 The importance of a gender perspective......Page 206 7.4.2 The value of a rights framework......Page 207 7.4.3 Understanding women's work and care......Page 208 7.4.4 Pour-dimensional substantive equality......Page 210 7.4.5 Intersectionality......Page 211 7.4.6 Conditional social security......Page 213 7.4.8 Social security and other rights......Page 214 7.5 Value of the 'gender-developed' right to social security......Page 215 7.6 Conclusion......Page 217 Books......Page 218 Book chapters......Page 220 Edited books......Page 225 Journal articles......Page 226 Electronic articles......Page 232 Newspaper articles......Page 233 Reports......Page 234 Web pages......Page 236 Legal sources......Page 238 Index......Page 247 Présentation de l'éditeur : "The right to social security, found in international law and in the constitutions of many nations, contributes to the alleviation of poverty globally. Social security and its articulation as a human right have received increased attention in recent years both in response to austerity cuts to welfare in developed countries and as a means of lifting millions out of poverty in developing countries. Women, disproportionately affected by poverty in all parts of the world, stand to gain from a right to social security that takes cognisance of gender discrimination and disadvantage. This book interprets and redefines the right to social security from a gender perspective. Drawing on feminist theory, the book formulates a conceptual approach and a set of principles for a substantively equal, gendered right to social security. In so doing, it challenges the relationship between the right to social security and traditional conceptions of work that exclude women's labour including their caring roles. It argues that the right must have application at the transnational level if it is to address the changing nature of women's work due to globalisation. The book applies the framework and principles it develops to a study of international law focusing on the work of key United Nations human rights bodies. It also demonstrates the value of this framework in its analysis of three countries' social security programmes - South Africa, Australia and India. In combining feminist thought on the nature of work and care with equality theories in developing the right to social security from a gender perspective this book expands the capacity of the right to advance gender equality and address gendered poverty."