A/HRC/32/31 it is very much to be hoped that the 2030 Agenda will indeed lead to greater respect for economic and social rights as human rights, this is by no means guaranteed by the terms of the Agenda as adopted and much remains to be done if that aspiration is to be meaningfully promoted. B. Treating economic and social rights as human rights 8. This report emphasizes the importance of treating economic and social rights as human rights, rather than as desirable goals, development challenges, social justice concerns or any of the other formulations that are invariably preferred. The pre-eminent question is whether it really matters that we treat economic and social rights as human rights. One answer is that the use of rights terminology is avoided so assiduously by governments and others precisely because it does matter very much and makes a big difference. How so? First, the use of the human rights framework ensures that in the midst of programmes designed to ensure collective well-being, the rights of the individual and not just the overall goals of the programme and the interests of the collectivity are taken into account. Second, in contrast to generic social justice language which has no defined content or agreed meaning, human rights discourse directs policymakers and others back to the internationally agreed formulations of economic and social rights and the jurisprudence that has painstakingly evolved. Third, treating economic and social rights as human rights rather than long-term goals introduces an element of immediate salience which might otherwise not be present. Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, the language of rights recognizes and insists on the dignity and agency of all individuals (regardless of race, gender, social status, age, disability or any other distinguishing factor) and it is intentionally empowering. Whether in the home, village, school or workplace, or in the political marketplace of ideas, it makes a difference if one is calling for the realization of collectively agreed and internationally recognized and defined rights to housing or education, rather than merely making a general request or demand. Moreover, as noted earlier, the legal conception of human rights presupposes and demands accountability, whereas characterizing economic and social rights in terms of desirable goals or development challenges leaves them hostage to a great many other considerations. C. Structure of the report 9. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur identifies the problematic consequences that flow from the second-tier status of economic and social rights within both the domestic and international human rights systems. He then reflects on the ways in which economic and social rights can be treated as though they really are human rights and what that would mean. He does this primarily through the lens of the recognition, institutionalization and accountability (RIA) framework. These are the three essential components of any potentially effective strategy for promoting economic and social rights as human rights, and policies and programmes that neglect these dimensions are unlikely to be effective. Consideration is given to the extent to which the framework is reflected in some of the monitoring activities undertaken by the Human Rights Council, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The Special Rapporteur concludes the report by noting that the RIA framework is not a magic bullet, nor should it be seen as a substitute for other initiatives in the field, and highlighting the need to acknowledge and tackle the deeper reasons for the continuing marginalization of economic and social rights. 6