some social workers have been able to work remotely; people in need of shelter have been temporarily housed in hotels) and, in other cases, they have been temporarily suspended. It is not within the scope of this paper to review in detail the provision of social services during the coronavirus outbreak across the OSCE region. For one thing, there is great diversity in how social care is organized among OSCE participating States. It is usually done through local authorities and municipalities, which makes it difficult to assess where there have been disruptions and gaps. Limitations on access to social care also overlaps with the classification of some health services as “non-essential” (as discussed in a previous section of this publication), because people in vulnerable situations tend to have complex needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, particular concern has been raised about women’s access to specific services that are outlined below, but these do not represent the full spectrum of social care services that should be available to women and men, as well as girls and boys, during emergencies. The right to social protection is an obligation to provide for social welfare. The right to social protection encompasses the protection of and assistance to families, to mothers and to children. Social protection is also implicated in rights to just and favourable conditions of work (e.g., the right to social security) and to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health (which takes into account not only the absence of illness, but also social well-being). States should also undertake measures to ensure “equality of opportunity for all in their access to basic resources, education, health services, food, housing, employment and the fair distribution of income” (i.e., the right to development). Right to social protection The right to an adequate standard of living includes within it the right to adequate food, clothing and housing.205 The right to social protection and to enjoy an adequate standard of living is explicitly recognized in respect to women living in rural ar206 eas and persons with disabilities.207 Right to adequate standard of living Examples of impacts on women: • When social services are suspended or restricted at the same time that lockdown measures are imposed, the risk of domestic violence for women who are confined in the home with an abuser (as described earlier in this publication) increase significantly. The lack of, or lack of access to, specialized services for survivors of gender-based violence violates women’s right to social protection, in conjunction with their right to be free from violence. It also puts their right to access to justice in jeopardy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 205 ICESCR, op. cit., note 16, Art. 11. 206 CEDAW, op. cit., note 20, Art. 14. 207 UN General Assembly, CRPD, op. cit., note 21, Art. 28. 60