E/C.12/GC/19 page 16 institutions, in particular those concerning their role in structural adjustment and in the design and implementation of social security systems, promote and do not interfere with the right to social security. 5. Core obligations 59. States parties have a core obligation to ensure the satisfaction of, at the very least, minimum essential levels of each of the rights enunciated in the Covenant.34 This requires the State party: (a) To ensure access to a social security scheme that provides a minimum essential level of benefits to all individuals and families that will enable them to acquire at least essential health care,35 basic shelter and housing, water and sanitation, foodstuffs, and the most basic forms of education. If a State party cannot provide this minimum level for all risks and contingencies within its maximum available resources, the Committee recommends that the State party, after a wide process of consultation, select a core group of social risks and contingencies; (b) To ensure the right of access to social security systems or schemes on a non-discriminatory basis, especially for disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups;36 (c) To respect existing social security schemes and protect them from unreasonable interference;37 (d) To adopt and implement a national social security strategy and plan of action;38 (e) To take targeted steps to implement social security schemes, particularly those that protect disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups;39 (f) To monitor the extent of the realization of the right to social security.40 34 See general comment No. 3 (1990) on the nature of States parties’ obligations (art.2, para.1 of the Covenant). 35 Read in conjunction with general comment No. 14 (2000) on the right to the highest attainable standard of health (art. 12), paras. 43 and 44, this would include access to health facilities, goods and services on a non-discriminatory basis, provision of essential drugs, access to reproductive, maternal (prenatal as well as post-natal) and child health care, and immunization against the major infectious diseases occurring in the community. 36 See paras. 29-31 above. 37 See paras. 44-46 above. 38 See paras. 68-70 below. 39 See for example paras. 31-39 above.