Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights

This book addresses the pressing issue of severe poverty and inequality, and questions why violations of socio-economic rights are treated with less urgency than violations of civil and political rights, such as the right to freedom of speech or to vote? Author David Bilchitz seeks to provide a sustained argument for placing renewed emphasis upon socio-economic rights in the fight against desperate poverty. It utilizes a combination of political philosophy, constitutional law, and public policy in its focus on the right to food, to housing, and to health-care.

David Bilchitz graduated cum laude from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in 1997 with a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and in 1999 with a law degree (LLB). In 2000, he worked as law clerk to the current Chief Justice of South Africa, Pius Langa when the famous Grootboom case was decided. He graduated from St. John's College, University of Cambridge with an Mphil degree in Philosophy in 2001 and a PhD degree in 2004 with a thesis that combined political philosophy and constitutional law. He currently works for Ross Kriel Attorneys, a law firm that together with its sister organisation, Ashira Consulting, specialises in the law relating to the public sector. He is also a part-time lecturer in jurisprudence at the University of the Witwatersrand