BACKGROUND RESOURCES ON ECONOMIC RIGHTS
Additional Reading and Documentation:
The United States Constitution asserts many economic rights, of which most have been derived from the initial Bill of Rights through their inception in 1789. In particular, the Fourth and Fifth Amendments have been integral in defining the bounds of individual property and necessity of its protection.
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
- The United States National Archives
Prior to the ratification of the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen provided the groundwork for enumeration of laws and requirements for public security after the French Revolution. This also included the protection of property as exemplified in Article 17.
http://www.hrcr.org/docs/frenchdec.html
- Human and Constitutional Rights Resource Page
The Four Freedoms speech delivered by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the annual State of the Union address in 1941, affirmed the four fundamental freedoms everyone in the world should enjoy. Among these is the ‘freedom from want’, considered a cardinal tenet in maintaining world peace and stability.
http://www.feri.org/common/news/details.cfm?QID=2089&clientid=11005
- The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was unanimously ratified by the UN General Assembly in 1948, and has since served as the basis for much of international human rights law. Articles 23 and 24 of the Declaration are especially pertinent in addressing issues of work, remuneration, and collective bargaining.
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
- The United Nations
The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights is a multilateral treaty within the UN General Assembly enforced since 1976. With over 155 nations that have ratified the treaty, the Covenant provides important details about the insurance of economic rights. Articles 6 through 15 of Part III ensures the protection of working conditions, to proper education, to social security.
http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/cescr.htm
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Articles 15-17 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union provide a more contemporary assertion of the economic rights afforded to citizens of an international body. Of these rights, the freedom to choose employment and be properly compensated are assured.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf
- Council of the European Union
In 2000, the United Nations formed a joint resolution to address the issues of development throughout the world. Among the goals are plans to eliminate extreme poverty and the dearth in proper education. These goals were adopted by 189 world leaders during the summit.
http://www.un.org/millennium/declaration/ares552e.htm
- United Nations Millenium Declaration – The United Nations
Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign – advocacy group seeking to secure litigation that would ensure ubiquity of work, food, and housing in America.
International Labor Rights Fund – group engaging in litigation and public education to address issues of worker’s rights including child labor, forced labor, and other abuses.
Human Rights Watch – an international NGO reporting on violations of human rights, including issues regarding unfair labor.
Statistics:
International Labour Organization estimates that:
- 12.3 million people are victims of forced labour
- more than 2.4 million have been trafficked
- 9.8 million are exploited by private agents
- 2.5 million are forced to work by the state or by rebel military groups
The profits from forced trafficked labour are estimated to be in excess of $30 billion dollars.
Other Links:
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Labor Violations in North Carolina
http://www.laborrights.org/press/general/UEcomplaint_pressrelease_120905.htm