ELEMENTS OF THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE CLOTHING

The right to adequate clothing is more than a physical necessity. It has cultural and religious elements as clothing is often a visible expression of a person’s culture, customs, religion, belief or political opinion (see III§2). Because of the variations in cultural clothing needs and wants, the right to adequate clothing is probably the least elaborated of all the components of an adequate standard of living. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has addressed the right to adequate clothing in several General Comments and in its Concluding Observations on state reports. The Committee has articulated the issue of adequate and appropriate clothing for elderly persons (General Comment 6), the importance of adequate clothing for disabled persons with special clothing needs to enable them to function fully and effectively in society (General Comment 5), and in relation to the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the Committee has recommended that states ensure adequate protective clothing to minimise the risk of occupational accidents (General Comment 14). In its Concluding Recommendations to states the Committee has, inter alia, addressed issues such as the access to sufficient clothing and adequate clothing as part of adequate means of subsistence. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has also made recommendations to several states regarding inadequate clothing of street children and children belonging to other marginalised groups, such as indigenous peoples.