Social and Economic Rights

This chapter focuses on four social and economic rights which have been invoked in relation to children before the European Court of Human Rights: the right to health care, the right to a healthy environment, the right to property, and the right to social welfare. In relation to health care, it considers issues concerning consent to treatment, immunisation and disease prevention, privacy, and medical negligence. The chapter then examines the issue of abortion, focusing on the status of the unborn children under the Convention, as well as the right to effective access to treatment. The right to a healthy environment is also analysed, although this issue has only been briefly considered in the context of children’s rights. Finally, the child’s right to property, in the context of misuse of property, inheritance rights, and child maintenance are considered, as well as social security and social welfare, including parental leave and allowances, and access to state benefits.