ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a defence of economic and social rights as human rights against many different objections levelled against them. It deals with their definition and justification; outlines a theory of corresponding duties; assesses objections on the grounds of practicality; and evaluates the purpose of economic and social rights agenda in an imperfect world. In absence of a satisfactory theory of obligation, it is urged, human rights must remain merely 'manifesto' claims, not properly rights. This objection is held to be particularly damaging to economic and social rights, which require from individuals and governments, not merely that they refrain from harming others or undermining their security, but that they act positively to promote their well-being. Henry Shue developed three different kinds of duty that are required to make a human right effective. There is, first, the duty to avoid depriving a person of some necessity; the duty to protect them from deprivation; and the duty to aid them when deprived.
