The human rights issue The human rights argument General Comment 14 of the UN Committee Where a government is spending funds on non-essential goods and services, it is on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has failing to use the maximum of its available resources to realize economic and social said that the right to health guarantees in rights. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) mean It is not sufficient that a government’s allocations appropriately prioritize economic that health services should be: • Available; • Accessible; • Acceptable; • Of good quality. and social rights. It is essential to ask on what the funds – whether allocated for Article 2 of the ICESCR talks about what a Civil society budget groups have found that government budgets in critical areas are government must to do to realize the right too often “heavy” with administrative or non-essential expenses. While administration to health. This includes using the maximum is essential for the adequate provisioning of services, sometimes such a significant of its available resources to ensure share of resources is going to administration that direct service providers are short availability, accessibility, acceptability and of funds. Alternatively, essential administrators may be spending funds on non- quality of health services. essential goods and services. health, education, work programs, water, or some other related area – are being spent. Are they being spent on goods and services that are most appropriate for ensuring that people’s rights – to health, education, work, water, etc. – are being realized?