A/HRC/13/51 vulnerable, and that immediate action was required to prevent it from becoming a human rights crisis. The economic and financial crisis presented also, however, an opportunity to move towards a more people-centred international economic system with greater respect for human rights. 13. The independent expert highlighted the fact that access to social security was a human right, and that the provision of it was a State obligation under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The provision of social security was a duty, not an act of charity and, when implemented with due regard for the principles of accountability, inclusiveness, universality and transparency, it could play a key role in the realization of human rights. She emphasized that the principles of universality and nondiscrimination should be observed in the design and implementation of social protection programmes; where schemes were targeted, they must be reasonable, fair, objective and transparent, and include a mechanism for redress. A human rights-based approach complemented other approaches to social protection programmes. 14. The independent expert added that the social protection floor, an initiative of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board, must be analysed from a human rights perspective, especially during its early stages of development. While the social protection floor could be an effective tool for achieving minimum standards and core obligations of human rights, it must be coupled with State commitments to the progressive realization of higher levels of protection as resources become available. She commented that the same political will demonstrated in the recapitalizing of financial institutions should also be shown with respect to social protection policies. 15. The Director of the Department for Social Security of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Michael Cichon, spoke about a social protection floor for all as the realization of the right to social security under article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Reference was made to the Global Jobs Pact adopted by ILO at the International Labour Conference held in June 2009, promoting the concept of a social protection floor that would provide effective and concrete core content to the human right to social security, enhance gender equality and be particularly beneficial to the most vulnerable. The social transfer part of the social protection floor would consist of four essential social guarantees, including access to essential health services for all residents, as well as income security through basic benefits for children, people who were not able to earn sufficient income on the labour market, the elderly and the disabled. The Chief Executives Board had incorporated an initiative on the social protection floor as one of its nine crisis response mechanisms. 16. Mr. Cichon stated that social security transfers were a powerful tool to combat poverty and to protect people from social risks, highlighting the particular social security needs of vulnerable groups, such as agricultural workers, children and the elderly. He emphasized the role played by social security systems as social and economic stabilizers in times of crisis, and drew attention to their positive impact on poverty, inequality, health and nutrition, education, child labour and gender equality. Basic social security and essential cash transfers were fiscally affordable for all but the poorest States. 17. Mr. Cichon also stated that a policy framework for adequate social security for all should be based on the principles of universality, progressiveness and pluralism. An outcome- rather than process-based approach was required, and should focus on universal coverage, benefits as a right, sound financing and responsible governance by States and social partners. States were urged to ratify the current ILO conventions, in particular Convention concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security (Convention No. 102). Policy development at the international and national levels should be supported through the promotion of existing standards, such as social safeguards, and through the introduction of new instruments, including support for the social protection floor initiative. In conclusion, GE.09-17229 5