A/64/279 V. The human rights framework and social protection 46. In order to protect and respect fundamental rights that are crucial for the protection of the poor (for example, the right to health, social security and the right to an adequate standard of living), States are required to devise and implement social protection policies. Not only can social protection policies assist greatly in the achievement of all human rights, but they can also be strengthened when they follow a rights-based approach. A. Providing a normative framework 47. Human rights law provides a normative framework that assigns rights and responsibilities to individuals, groups and States. Thus, from a human rights perspective, beneficiaries of social protection are rights-holders that can make legitimate claims related to the allocation of resources. States and other actors are duty-bearers that are responsible and can be held accountable for their acts or omissions. 48. International standards need to be enforced, and to do so States are required to adopt new laws, design regulatory frameworks, amend existing national laws and administrative practices, strengthen the judiciary, establish national human rights institutions, increase participation and improve socio-economic standards, among other things. States must therefore implement structural reforms to ensure, inter alia, free and compulsory primary education, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the abolition of child labour; equality before the law and equitable access to resources, which are indispensable for the good functioning of social protection systems. 49. States are also required to strengthen mechanisms that allow people to claim their rights, as well as to empower individuals to access and utilize mechanisms for claiming rights. These measures contribute greatly to reducing vulnerabilities and risks and enhancing the ability of households to manage risks and improve their standard of living. For example, potential beneficiaries of social protection programmes must know what entitlements they can receive and be able to challenge decisions that affect their benefits. B. Recognizing rights and principles 50. In order to give full effect to the range of rights set out in international human rights law, States must implement social protection policies and systems. The duty to implement policies to advance the protection available to the poor flows directly from a number of human rights, in particular the right to social security and the right to an adequate standard of living; both of these rights are enshrined in the Universal 12 09-45276