A/HRC/13/51 2. Best practices of States in implementing social security programmes from a human rights perspective 25. The Director of the Department for Payments Management of the Social Security Agency of South Africa, Stalin Links, presented an overview of social security systems in South Africa from a human rights perspective. The right to social security was enshrined in the South African Constitution and in complementary legislation. In South Africa, social assistance was also provided to foreigners. 26. Mr. Links also drew attention to substantial policy changes that had resulted from the judicial review mechanism, provided in the Constitution, including cases where the court had upheld all legal residents’ right of access to social security. The role played by civil society has been crucial in both applying pressure on and collaborating with the Government in promoting human rights. Reaffirming that all rights were interrelated, independent and indivisible, Mr. Links added that economic and social rights were justiciable; however, the limitation clause made them subject to the availability of resources. Challenges relating to the delivery of social security services included compliance with norms and standards in the provision of services, spatial distance and fraud. He concluded by stating that progress and success in improving social security systems required an active civil society, administration of justice and a policy design and implementation that ensured human rights. 27. The National Secretary of Assessment and Management of Information of the Ministry of Social Development and the Fight against Poverty (Brazil), Luziele Maria de Souza Tapajós, presented her country’s national approaches to social security. She stressed that, in Brazil, social security was framed as a right of citizens and a duty of the State. Some of the main programmes included measures aimed at the redistribution of wealth, the reduction of poverty and inequality, the promotion of a more fair, inclusive and sustainable development, and monitoring and evaluation to ensure accountability to citizens. 28. Ms. Tapajós highlighted some of the achievements made through the implementation of social security programmes, including reduced poverty, inequality, hunger and child malnutrition, as well as developments in social inclusion. The economic crisis had increased the importance of social policies, which help guarantee social rights, provide a network for the promotion of social goals and ensure a minimum level of purchasing power to people, thereby acting as a potential mitigator of the effects of the crisis. 29. The Head of Department of the Ministry of Economic Development of Azerbaijan, Sahib Mammadov, introduced the main social security programmes in the country, which were aimed at, inter alia, ensuring sustainable economic development by maintaining macroeconomic stability and the balanced development of the non-oil sector; increasing income-generating opportunities and achieving substantial poverty reduction; reducing social risks for the elderly, low-income families and vulnerable groups; improving living conditions of refugees and internally displaced persons; improving the quality of and ensuring equal access to affordable basic health and education services; promoting and protecting gender equality; ensuring sustainable management of the environment; and continuing institutional reforms and improving good governance. 30. The Premier Councillor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg, Raymond Weber, shared a human rights perspective on the successes and challenges in the social security system of his country. While Luxembourg had made progress in ensuring the social rights of refugees and asylum-seekers, it faced challenges, for instance with regard to ensuring universal access to social security while avoiding the creation of parallel societies between its citizens and foreigners, who accounted for 40 per cent of the active population in the country. Luxembourg would introduce a GDP of well- GE.09-17229 7