International Human Rights Law and Destitution

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https://faculti.net/international-human-rights-law-and-destitution/

This video summarizes a discussion about a book based on a PhD project focusing on the issue of destitution in British society. The author explains that the motivation for the book stems from a rising interest in destitution, defined as an extreme form of poverty crucial for survival, particularly in the context of social transfers.

This video outlines two main factors that motivated the research: the increase in poverty and destitution in the UK and the ineffectiveness of the existing legal framework, which does not adequately address destitution or provide a legal right to be free from it. The author advocates for an exploration of economic, social, and cultural rights as potential mechanisms to address destitution, emphasizing the link between the realization of these rights and survival needs.

The book presents a new definition of destitution, consisting of two components: the rights that include basic survival necessities (food, clothing, housing, water, sanitation) and a defined "destitution threshold." Importantly, the text argues that if individuals must rely on charity for these components, they are deemed destitute.

The author critiques UK austerity measures, arguing that they have fostered a reliance on charity rather than state provision, and thus contributed to increased levels of destitution. The proposed solutions emphasize strengthening the state’s role in providing a social safety net to ensure that economic, social, and cultural rights are met without reliance on charity.

In conclusion, the book stresses the need to reshape social security in a way that prioritizes human rights to combat destitution effectively while simultaneously contributing to the broader realization of these economic and social rights in society.