A/64/279 14. Adopting a human rights-based approach to investment in social protection not only gives legitimacy to these investments, but is also instrumental in protecting them against the effects of corruption, clientelism and political instability that changes in Governments can cause. III. Social protection systems 15. For the purpose of this report, social protection is defined as encompassing a wide range of policies designed to address the risks and vulnerabilities of individuals and groups, both those who can and those who cannot work, in order to help them cope and overcome situations of poverty, especially when it results from incidents outside their control. Social protection includes a broad range of instruments ranging from safety nets, social assistance and social insurance to mutual and informal risk management. 16. Social protection systems are an important dimension in the reduction of poverty. They serve to protect the most vulnerable from falling further into poverty and ensure access to health services and education. Social protection systems act as economic stabilizers, thereby limiting the contraction of aggregate demand and in turn curtailing the potential depth of a recession. They also assist in building social cohesion, which can reduce the likelihood of social unrest. In addition, if they are well designed, social protection systems may contribute to the achievement of several human rights, such as the rights to adequate standard of living, health, education and social security. 17. Social protection systems are generally structured around three main objectives: (a) facilitating recovery from the crises that have led people to become poor; (b) contributing to the ability of chronically poor people to emerge from poverty and to challenge oppressive socio-economic relationships; (c) supporting the less active poor (such as the elderly, persons with disabilities and children) so that poverty will not be inherited by the next generation. 18. For all three steps, a large number of measures and instruments already exist for States to put a social protection system in place (for example, insurance schemes, public works, food aid, targeted cash transfer or social funds). However, not all of these measures in their current form result in poverty alleviation or the realization of human rights. IV. The global financial crisis and its impact on the human rights of people living in extreme poverty 19. In recent months, Governments have repeatedly accepted publicly that the economic crisis affects individuals and, in particular, vulnerable groups. However, apart from a resolution on the impact of the crisis adopted by the Human Rights Council at its tenth special session, 5 most public statements fall short of recognizing that the crisis dramatically affects people’s enjoyment of human rights. __________________ 5 6 The Council expressed deep concern that the universal realization and effective enjoyment of human rights are being challenged due to multiple and interrelated effects of the crisis; see A/HRC/S-10/2. 09-45276