Access To Financial Services

The basic financial services of deposit,loan and remittance are closely related to personal life.However,due to the profit preference of traditional financial institutions and the lack of government guidance,individuals in many regions and countries around the world are unable to obtain the above basic financial services,especially those with vulnerable socio-economic status,such as women,the disabled,migrant workers,the poor and farmers.They also have the need to obtain financial services,and the great role of basic financial services for their well-being has been recognized in many materials,and their basic rights have been included in various international human rights instruments.This article first points out that access to financial services has been clearly stipulated in several human rights conventions targeting specific groups.Based on the analysis of the corresponding provisions in these conventions and combined with the opinions expressed by the respective committees,we can be sure that these clauses protect the equal rights of special groups in access to financial services,their rights of equality and non-discrimination in the economic field,confirm their legal capacity,and protect their interests of living as autonomous subjects,especially their right to independence in the economic field.This article then combines soft law documents and scholars' research materials to explain the relationship between access to financial services and various human rights.In this chapter,it is pointed out that ensuring equal opportunities for all people in access to financial services is to protect and promote the enjoyment of equal rights and non-discrimination rights for all;at the same time,it points out that economic accessibility is one of the basic elements to define the right to housing,health and education,and basic financial services are necessary tools for individuals to make full use of existing production opportunities,and have strong functional value for individuals to fully enjoy these economic,social and cultural rights.It also points out that access to financial services is particularly important to the rights of specific groups such as women,the disabled and migrant workers.On the basis of the above discussion,this article proposes whether access to financial services should be protected by human rights standards.In this chapter,first of all,the right of access to financial services is defined as "a right to have effective access to basic financial services such as deposit,remittance and loan at an affordable cost".Then it puts forward two standard human rights justifications to defend this right.First it offers an interest-based argument emphasizing the value of the proposed right to realize individual autonomy.Second,it clarifies that there is a close relationship between access to financial services and the right to equality,nondiscrimination,economic,social and cultural rights,and special group rights.Access to financial services has a strong functional or supportive value for the latter,so it should be protected by human rights standards.Finally,it further proposes what specific measures the state can take to recognize,respect,protect and realize the right of access to financial services.