The Constitution requires government to progressively realise socio-economic rights within its available resources. However, claims are frequently made that government does not have sufficient resources to meet these obligations. Understanding how government’s budget operates, and how resources are prioritised is becoming more urgent to challenge these claims to ensure that access to housing, education, health care services and social security, among others, continues to be expanded and inequalities in the enjoyment of these rights are reduced. In addition to the constitutional obligations on the state to realise socio-economic rights, government is also required to do so in terms of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which South Africa ratified last year.

The roundtable discussion, supported by the Foundation for Human Rights, will bring together socio-economic rights researchers, civil society organisations, government representatives and other actors to discuss:
“Is the government budget formulated and implemented in a manner either advances or inhibits, the progressive realisation of socio-economic rights.”
The discussions will unpack the conceptual challenges and opportunities of engaging in budget analysis to advance socio-economic rights; how the Constitution and international human rights instruments that South Africa has ratified informs resource prioritisation; the availability of data on government finances that is transparent and accessible to the public; and the practical implications of monitoring the fulfilment of government’s obligation to fulfil socio-economic rights through the budget.

“Understanding how government money is allocated in the budget and how it is in fact then spent, is critical to holding government to account in an open and inclusive way. Follow the money, as we say”, said Isobel Frye, Director of Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute.

For more information contact:
Thandi Matthews, South African Human Rights Commission – 072 202 0436, or
Daniel McLaren, Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute – 079 9101 453

ENDS