Advancing Economic and Social Rights
Overview
The goal of this work is to help people demand basic economic and social rights, and access remedies when those rights are violated.
The Challenge
Access to food, water, shelter, health care and education are basic human rights safeguarded by international law. Yet across the world, nearly 1.4 billion people live in extreme poverty on less than $1.25 a day, and the majority of the world's people are chronically malnourished, lack basic sanitation and do not have access to land, safe housing or water. Beyond humanitarian assistance that meets immediate needs, it is essential to help people establish their basic social and economic rights.
What We're Doing
Organizations that help people become active participants in the struggle for these basic rights are critical strategic players in efforts to break the long-term cycle of poverty. We support effective mechanisms and institutions around the world through which people can demand their economic and social rights, gain access to those rights and have remedies available when their rights are violated. This work encompasses public interest litigation; community organizing and advocacy targeted at policy reform; monitoring, documentation and applied research; and working to strengthen organizations, networking and alliance-building to effect change.
Learn more about how our strategies and approaches shape our grant making.
From the Newsroom
- 2011: Furthering Our Commitment The foundation looks back on a year of social change
- Visionary Leader Ela Bhatt Talks to the New York Times About Strengthening Local Economies Founder of the Self-Employed Women's Association reflects on lessons learned, evaluating the impact and what the future holds for the field
- Beyond Conventions: A Ford Forum on Human Rights The third and final event in a series of 75th anniversary forums on critical social justice issues will take place on September 20
- Luis Ubiñas Opens Beyond Conventions Forum Ford Foundation president welcomes attendees of the human rights event to mark our 75th anniversary
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