Rights and Performance: Economic and Social Rights in the UK

The United Kingdom is a Contracting Party both to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to the Council of Europe’s European Social Charter. These, together with obligations under Conventions and Recommendations of the ILO and UNESCO make up the greater part of the code of economic, social and cultural principles to which the state is legally bound to aspire.1 It may be relevant to take into account developments within the European Community towards social cohesion. The heated discussions on a Community Charter of Social Rights will undoubtedly raise the profile of social rights in Europe from the point of view of aspiration. Implementation of the proposed Charter, as envisaged by its supporters, could well make a notable impact upon social rights legislation within the United Kingdom but these are, and may remain matters for the future.