Right to Social Security (Articles 4, 5, 6, 15; 16; 18(1), (2) and (4) 80. The right to social security is of central importance in guaranteeing human dignity for all persons when they are faced with circumstances that deprive them of their capacity to fully realise their rights. Social security, through its redistributive character, plays an important role in poverty reduction and alleviation and preventing social exclusion and promoting social inclusion. The right to social security includes the right not to be subject to arbitrary and unreasonable restrictions on existing social security coverage, whether obtained publicly or privately, as well as the right to equal enjoyment of adequate protection from social risks and contingencies. 81. Therefore, although the right to social security is not explicitly protected in the African Charter, it can be derived from a joint reading of a number of rights guaranteed under the Charter including (but not limited to) the rights to life, dignity, liberty, work, health, food, protection of the family and the right to the protection of the aged and the disabled.xxxiv In addition it is strongly affirmed in international law. 82. The right to social security imposes, amongst others, the following obligations on States parties to: Minimum Core Obligations a. 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, basic shelter and housing, water and sanitation, foodstuffs, and the most basic forms of education consistent with human life, security and dignity. National Plans, Policies and Systems b. Take effective measures to fully realise the right of all persons to social security, including social insurance. These measures include: 1. Contributory or insurance-based schemes 2. Non-contributory schemes such as universal or targeted social assistance (where benefits are received based solely on need); 3. Privately run schemes, and (d) self-help or other measures, such as community-based or mutual schemes. c. Ensure that a system, whether composed of a single or variety of schemes, is available and in place to ensure that benefits are provided for the relevant social risks and contingencies. The system should be established under domestic law, and public authorities must take responsibility for its effective administration or supervision. d. Ensure that the social security system provides for the coverage of the following nine principal branches of social security. 45