How can we build a budget that respects human rights?

Public budgets are one of the most powerful tools governments have to realise people’s human rights. Every decision about raising, allocating and spending public money affects whether people can access housing, food, healthcare, education, social security and other everyday rights.

Under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which the UK ratified in 1976, governments are required to use the maximum of their available resources to progressively realise these rights.

This briefing pack explores how fiscal policy and state budgets intersect with human rights obligations. It aims to support both government bodies and civil society to align fiscal decisions with human rights standards and to use rights-based frameworks in budget analysis and scrutiny.

The pack is presented in three linked parts, covering:

• Foundations – how budgets connect to human rights law
• Design – how to embed human rights in budget processes; and
• Analysis – how to assess and hold governments accountable