New Publications

Women constitute the majority of the world’s poor, and their access to socio-economic rights is often impeded by social, cultural, economic and political barriers. This well-structured and lucidly written book covers the most important aspects of women’s socio-economic rights and provides a critical and analytical discourse on women’s rights in South Africa. It not only links poverty and gender, but also delves into the relatively recent discourse on the significance of socio-economic rights in addressing the feminised nature of poverty in an African context. In doing this, the book unpacks the equality jurisprudence in South Africa, questions it where necessary, and elaborates on new opportunities for asserting the rights of disadvantaged women. In Chapter 1, the book’s framework chapter, Sandra Fredman argues for a gendered approach to the implementation, interpretation and enforcement of socio-economic rights. The other chapters, written by seasoned socio-economic rights activists and scholars, cover women’s rights to health, housing, social security, land, food, water and basic services, education and work, and also explore these rights through a cross-cutting examination of the girl child’s rights and customary law.