B D e th e ROUTLEDGE RESEARCH IN HUMAN RIGHTS LAW v G e o lo ld p b la in tt g t h e R 7 i 1 g 0 h 2 t y r t a o u n S a J o 4 c 1 ia 6 0 l : 9 S 1 e t a c ] u o r g i e t i y D – n a S A a, G ni r e o f n i l d a C e r of Developing the Right P y e it r rs s e to Social Security – p v i e n c U tiv y [ A Gender Perspective b e d e d a o l n w o Beth Goldblatt D LAW/SOCIAL POLICY/GENDER STUDIES aninformabusiness ISBN 978-1-138-12011-2 ,!7IB1D8-bcabbc! www.routledge.com Developing the Right to Social Security – A Gender Perspective 7 1 0 2 y r a u n a The right to social security, found in international law and in the constitutions J 4 of many nations, contributes to the alleviation of poverty globally. Social security 1 6 and its articulation as a human right have received increased attention in recent 0 : years both in response to austerity cuts to welfare in developed countries and 9 1 as a means of lifting millions out of poverty in developing countries. Women, at disproportionately affected by poverty in all parts of the world, stand to gain ] o from a right to social security that takes cognisance of gender discrimination and g e disadvantage. i D This book interprets and redefines the right to social security from a gender n perspective. Drawing on feminist theory, the book formulates a conceptual a S approach and a set of principles for a substantively equal, gendered right to ia, social security. In so doing, it challenges the relationship between the right to n r social security and traditional conceptions of work that exclude women’s labour o if including their caring roles. It argues that the right must have application at the l a C transnational level if it is to address the changing nature of women’s work due to f globalisation. o y The book applies the framework and principles it develops to a study of inter- t si national law focusing on the work of key United Nations human rights bodies. r e It also demonstrates the value of this framework in its analysis of three countries’ v ni social security programmes – South Africa, Australia and India. In combining U feminist thought on the nature of work and care with equality theories in devel- [ y oping the right to social security from a gender perspective, this book expands the b d capacity of the right to advance gender equality and address gendered poverty. e d a o Beth Goldblatt is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University l n of Technology Sydney. She is a Visiting Fellow of the Australian Human w o Rights Centre in the Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales D and an Honorary Senior Fellow of the Faculty of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand. Routledge Research in Human Rights Law 7 1 0 2 y ar Available titles in this series include: u n Ja Socio-Economic Rights in Emerging Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific 4 Free Markets Region 1 6 Comparative Insights from India and Towards Institution Building 0 China Hitoshi Nasu and Ben Saul : 9 Surya Deva 1 t Human Rights Monitoring a ] The Right to Development in Mechanisms of the Council of Europe o International Law Gauthier de Beco g e The Case of Pakistan i D Khurshid Iqbal The Positive Obligations of the State n under the European Convention of a S Global Health and Human Rights Human Rights a, Legal and Philosophical Perspectives Dimitris Xenos i n John Harrington and Maria Stuttaford r o Vindicating Socio-Economic Rights f li The Right to Religious Freedom in International Standards and Comparative a C International Law Experiences f Between Group Rights and Individual Paul O’Connell o y Rights it Anat Scolnicov The EU as a ‘Global Player’ in Human s r Rights? e v Emerging Areas of Human Rights in Jan Wetzel i n the 21st Century U [ The Role of the Universal Declaration of Regulating Corporate Human Rights y Human Rights Violations b d Marco Odello and Sofia Cavandoli Humanizing Business e Surya Deva d a The Human Right to Water and its o l Application in the Occupied Palestinian The UN Committee on Economic, n w Territories Social and Cultural Rights o Amanda Cahill The Law, Process and Practice D Marco Odello and Francesco Seatzu International Human Rights Law and Domestic Violence State Security Regimes and the Right The Effectiveness of International to Freedom of Religion and Belief Human Rights Law Changes in Europe Since 2001 Ronagh McQuigg Karen Murphy The European Court of Human Rights China’s Human Rights Lawyers in the Post-Cold War Era Advocacy and Resistance Universality in Transition Eva Pils James A. Sweeney The Right to Equality in European The United Nations Human Rights Human Rights Law Council The Quest for Substance in the A Critique and Early Assessment Jurisprudence of the European Courts 7 Rosa Freedman Charilaos Nikolaidis 1 0 2 Children and International Human Business and Human Rights in y Rights Law Southeast Asia r a The Right of the Child to be Heard Risk and Regulatory Turn u n Aisling Parkes Mahdev Mohan and Cynthia Morel a J 4 Litigating Transnational Human Indigenous Peoples, Title to Territory, 1 6 Rights Obligations Rights and Resources 0 Alternative Judgements The Transformative Role of Free Prior : 9 Mark Gibney and Wouter Vandenhole 1 and Informed Consent t Cathal M. Doyle a Reproductive Freedom, Torture and ] o International Human Rights g Challenging Territoriality in Human ie Challenging the Masculinisation of Rights Law D Torture Building Blocks for a Plural and Diverse n Ronli Sifris a Duty-Bearer Regime S Wouter Vandenhole a, Applying an International Human ni Rights Framework to State Budget Comparative Executive Clemency or Allocations The Constitutional Pardon Power and if Rights and Resources l the Prerogative of Mercy in the Global a Rory O’Connell, Aoife Nolan, Colin C Perspective of HRoaornveeyy, Mira Dutschke and Eoin Andrew Novak y t i Shifting Centres of Gravity in Human s Human Rights Law in Europe ver The Influence, Overlaps and Rights Protection ni Contradictions of the EU and the ECHR Rethinking Relations between ECHR, U EU, and National Legal Orders Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou, Tobias Lock, [ Edited by Oddný Mjöll Arnardóttir and y Theodore Konstadinides and Noreen b O’Meara Antoine Buyse d e d Nomadic Peoples and Human Rights a o Jérémie Gilbert nl Forthcoming titles in this series include: w o Children’s Lives in an Era of D Children’s Rights Jurisdiction, Immunity and The Progress of the Convention on the Transnational Human Rights Rights of the Child in Africa Litigation Afua Twum-Danso Imoh and Nicola Xiaodong Yang Ansell Extraterritoriality and International Care, Migration and Human Rights Human Rights Law Law and Practice The Spatial Reach of African Human Siobhán Mullally Rights Treaties Takele Soboka Bulto The Protection of Vulnerable Groups under International Human Rights Human Rights Law and Personal Law Identity Ingrid Nifosi-Sutton 7 Jill Marshall 1 Human Dignity and Degrading 0 2 Human Rights and the Politics of Treatment in the European Convention y Knowledge on Human Rights r a Joanne Coysh The Ends of Article 3 of the European u n Convention on Human Rights a J The Law and Practice of the European Elaine Webster 4 Social Committee 1 6 Francesco Seatzu and Amaya Ubeda de The Istanbul Convention, Domestic 0 Torres Violence and Human Rights : 9 1 Ronagh McQuigg t Reconciling Cultural Diversity a ] and International Human Rights The Right to Truth in International Law o g Obligations Victims’ Rights in Human Rights and ie The Compatibility Approach in the International Criminal Law D Practice of International Human Rights Edited by Melanie Klinkner and Howard n a Institutions Davis S Michael K. Addo a, Children’s Rights Law in the Global i n Social and Economic Rights in Theory Human Rights Landscape r o and Practice Isolation, Inspiration, Integration? f i l A Critical Assessment Edited by Eva Brems, Ellen Desmet and a C Helena Alviar Garcia, Karl Klare and Wouter Vandenhole of Lucy A. Williams y The Democratic Foundations of the t i The Human Rights Approach to European Convention on Human s er Disability Rights v i Cases and Materials Sovereignty, Equality, Agency n U Andreas Dimopoulos Alain Zysset [ y b Capturing Caste in Law Human Rights in the Media d The Legal Regulation of Caste Representation, Rhetoric, Reality e d Discrimination Edited by Michelle Farrell, Edel Hughes a o Annapurna Waughray and Eleanor Drywood l n w o D Developing the Right to Social Security – A Gender Perspective 7 1 0 2 y r a u n Beth Goldblatt a J 4 1 6 0 : 9 1 t a ] o g e i D n a S a, i n r o f i l a C f o y t i s r e v i n U [ y b d e d a o l n w o D 7 1 0 First published 2016 2 y by Routledge r 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN a u and by Routledge n a 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 J 4 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business 1 6 © 2016 Beth Goldblatt 0 : The right of Beth Goldblatt to be identified as author of this work 9 1 has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the t Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. a o] All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or g reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, e i or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including D photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval n system, without permission in writing from the publishers. a S Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks a, or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and i n explanation without intent to infringe. r o f British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data li A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library a C Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data of Names: Goldblatt, Beth, author. y Title: Developing the right to social security : a gender perspective / it Beth Goldblatt. s r Description: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY : Routledge, 2016. | Series: e v Routledge research in human rights law | Includes bibliographical ni references and index. U Identifiers: LCCN 2015047641| ISBN 9781138120112 (hbk) | y [ ISBN 9781315651880 b (ebk) d Subjects: LCSH: Social security--Law and legislation. | Social security- e -Law and legislation--India. | Social security--Law and legislation-- d a South Africa. | Social security--Law and legislation--Australia. | Sex o discrimination against women--Law and legislation. | Sex l n discrimination against women--Law and legislation--India. | Sex w discrimination against women--Law and legislation--South Africa. | o D Sex discrimination against women--Law and legislation--Australia. Classification: LCC K1900 .G65 2016 | DDC 344.03/2--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015047641 ISBN: 978-1-138-12011-2 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-65188-0 (ebk) Typeset in ITC Galliard by Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire Contents 7 1 0 2 y r a u n a Acknowledgements xii J 4 Abbreviations xiii 1 6 0 : 1 Introduction: gender, poverty, social security and rights 1 9 1 1.1 Gender, poverty and discrimination 2 at 1.1.1 Women’s poverty in global context 2 ] o 1.1.2 Gender discrimination underlying poverty 4 g e 1.2 Objectives and definitions of social security 6 i D 1.2.1 The origins, prevalence, nature and purpose of social n security 6 a S 1.2.2 Concepts and terms 8 ia, 1.2.3 Defining the right to social security 9 n r 1.3 Gender and social security 10 o if 1.4 The role of human rights 14 l a C 1.5 Research approach and decisions 17 f 1.5.1 Research approach 17 o y 1.5.2 Research methods 19 t si 1.5.3 Research choices: international law chapter 19 r e 1.5.4 Research choices: country studies 20 v ni 1.5.5 Research cut-off date 22 U 1.6 Chapter outline 22 [ y b d 2 A gender perspective: conceptual approach and principles 24 e d 2.1 Introduction 24 a o 2.2 A gender perspective 25 l n 2.3 The relationship between the right to social security and ‘work’ 31 w o 2.3.1 Changing nature of work 32 D 2.3.2 Women and work 32 2.3.3 Rethinking ‘work’ 33 2.4 The right to social security at different levels 36 2.5 Using equality to develop the right to social security 39 2.5.1 Equality as a human right 39 2.5.2 Substantive equality 41 viii Contents 2.5.3 Transformative substantive equality 43 2.5.4 Multiple and intersectional discrimination 45 2.6 Interdependence – a role for other rights 46 2.7 Developing the right to social security from a gender perspective 47 2.7.1 Principles for a substantively equal, gendered right to social security 49 2.8 Conclusion 51 7 1 3 The right to social security in international law: a gendered 0 2 consideration 52 y r 3.1 Introduction 52 a u 3.2 History and sources of the right 52 n a 3.2.1 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 53 J 4 3.2.2 The International Covenant on Economic, Social and 1 6 Cultural Rights 54 0 : 3.2.3 Other sources of the right 55 9 1 3.3 The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of at Discrimination against Women 59 ] o 3.3.1 The Convention 60 g e 3.3.2 The CEDAW Committee 64 i D 3.3.3 Assessment of CEDAW 71 n 3.4 The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural a S Rights 72 ia, 3.4.1 The International Covenant 72 n r 3.4.2 The CESCR 74 o if 3.4.3 Assessment of the ICESCR and the CESCR 91 l a C 3.5 The International Labour Organisation 92 f 3.5.1 Background 92 o y 3.5.2 The Social Protection Floor Recommendation (R202) 94 t si 3.5.3 Assessment of the ILO 97 r e 3.6 The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights 98 v ni 3.6.1 Gender and social protection in the work of the Special U Rapporteur 98 [ y 3.6.2 Assessment of the Special Rapporteur 101 b d 3.7 Conclusion 101 e d a o 4 South African country study 103 l n 4.1 Introduction 103 w o 4.2 South Africa’s social security system 104 D 4.3 Gender in the South African social security system 106 4.4 South Africa’s human rights framework and the right to social security 107 4.5 The Child Support Grant – meeting women’s social security rights? 110 4.5.1 Description of the CSG 110 4.5.2 Background to the CSG 111 Contents ix 4.5.3 Issues in implementation and administration of the CSG 111 4.5.4 Lack of a grant for parents 113 4.5.5 Negative discourse around the CSG 115 4.5.6 Evaluation of the CSG 116 4.6 The introduction of conditionality into the CSG 117 4.6.1 Debates around conditionality 118 4.6.2 New conditions attached to the CSG 121 7 4.7 Conclusion – addressing the gaps 124 1 0 2 5 Australian country study 127 y r 5.1 Introduction 127 a u 5.2 Australia’s social security system 128 n a 5.3 Gender in the Australian social security system 129 J 4 5.4 Australia’s human rights framework and the right to social 1 6 security 133 0 : 5.5 Parenting Payments cuts 135 9 1 5.5.1 History of Parenting Payment 135 at 5.5.2 The 2012 cuts 136 ] o 5.5.3 Initial response to cuts 137 g e 5.5.4 The human rights response 138 i D 5.5.5 Discussion of report of Parliamentary Joint Committee on n Human Rights 139 a S 5.5.6 Involvement of UN Special Rapporteur 140 ia, 5.5.7 Discussion 142 n r 5.6 Income management 143 o if 5.6.1 Background 143 l a C 5.6.2 Response to the measures 145 f 5.6.3 Gender analysis 146 o y 5.6.4 Discussion: gender rights analysis 147 t si 5.7 Conclusion 149 r e v ni 6 Indian country study 151 U 6.1 Introduction 151 [ y 6.2 India’s social security system 152 b d 6.2.1 The formal sector 153 e d 6.2.2 The unorganised sector, the unemployed and others facing a o poverty 153 l n 6.3 Gender, poverty and the need for social security in India 157 w o 6.3.1 The nature of women’s poverty and disadvantage 157 D 6.3.2 Women’s employment profile 158 6.3.3 Inadequate social security 159 6.3.4 Private/collective social security 159 6.4 India’s human rights framework and the right to social security 160 6.4.1 International treaties 160 6.4.2 Constitutional rights 161