This book investigates what normative justification can be provided for economic, social and cultural rights guaranteed under international law and how this justification can or should impact the State obligations emerging from these rights.

The term ‘vulnerability’ is often used in law and policy to refer to disadvantaged, marginalized or excluded human beings. This book explores how a vulnerability focus in basic assistance policies can contribute to substantive equality and therefore to the realization of universal human rights in the migration context. It concentrates on the potential that such a vulnerability focus can have to mitigate stigmatization and stereotyping and to f...