More about the Right to Social Security
Section 109 of the Constitution
Articles 22, 25, and 28 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Articles 9, 10, and 11 of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Culture Rights
Articles 13, 14, 16, and 17 of European Social Charter
The Law on Social Security
The Law on State Pensions
The Law on State Social Allowances
The Law on Social Services and Social Support, etc.
The right to social security belongs to the second generation of human rights, that is, social, economical and culture rights of individuals. Social rights are very important, yet they are special and different human rights because the exercise of such rights depends on the economical situation of and resources available to each State; it is closely linked to the possibilities of each State. At the same time, international law imposes an obligation of the State to seek possibly effective exercising of social rights within the maximum limits of the available resources, using adequate means and increasing tempo.
Social security system is established in Latvia to secure exercising of the right to social security, based on the following:
- Social insurance system where the amount and procedure for granting of old age pension, employment benefit, maternity benefit, for example, depends on the period of employment and payment of social contributions;
- Social support system the primary task of which is providing support in situations where individuals are unable to gain income and they are eligible to support from the State social security system.
The social security system operates in accordance with the following basic principles: prohibition of unequal treatment; solidarity; social insurance and support; preventive work; self-determination; and individual approach.