Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
States parties and signatories to the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR:
  states parties
  non-state parties signatories
  non-state parties non-signatories

The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is an international treaty establishing complaint and inquiry mechanisms for the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 2008,[1] and opened for signature on 24 September 2009.[2] As of October, 2011, the Protocol has 39 signatories and 4 parties.[3] It will enter into force when ratified by 10 parties.[4]

Contents

Genesis

In 1966, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Covenant obliged its parties to recognise and progressively implement economic, social, and cultural rights, including labour rights and rights to health, education, and an adequate standard of living, but did not include any mechanism by which these obligations could be legally enforced.

Work on an individual complaints mechanism began in 1990, with a view to developing an Optional Protocol similar to those of other UN human rights instruments.[5] Development was encouraged by the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, which recommended the Commission on Human Rights and CESCR to "continue examination of optional protocols" to the ICESCR.[6]

CESCR presented the first draft Optional Protocol in 1997.[5] In 2002, the Committee established an open-ended working group to continue development. In 2006, the Human Rights Council gave the open-ended working group the task of formally negotiating a draft text. Negotiations were completed in April 2008, and the resulting Optional Protocol was formally adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 2008.[1] It was opened for signature on 24 September 2009.[2]

Summary

The Optional Protocol establishes an individual complaints mechanism for the Covenant similar to those of the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Article 14 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Parties agree to recognise the competence of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to consider complaints from individuals or groups who claim their rights under the Covenant have been violated.[7] Complainants must have exhausted all domestic remedies, and anonymous complaints and complaints referring to events which occurred before the country concerned joined the Optional Protocol are not permitted.[8] The Committee can request information from and make recommendations to a party.[9] Parties may also opt to permit the Committee to hear complaints from other parties, rather than just individuals.[10]

The Protocol also includes an inquiry mechanism. Parties may permit the Committee to investigate, report on and make recommendations on "grave or systematic violations" of the Convention. Parties may opt out of this obligation on signature or ratification.[11]

The Optional Protocol requires ten ratifications to come into force.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b ""Economic, social and cultural rights: legal entitlements rather than charity" say UN Human Rights Experts". United Nations. 2008-12-10. http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/C5486C42747EC60BC125751B005B08B3?opendocument. Retrieved 2008-12-13. 
  2. ^ a b "UN urges States to adhere to new instrument to protect human rights". United Nations. 2009-09-24. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32207&Cr=cultural+rights&Cr1=. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  3. ^ "Parties to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights". United Nations Treaty Collection. http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3-a&chapter=4&lang=en. Retrieved 2011-10-14. 
  4. ^ a b OP-ICESCR, Article 18.
  5. ^ a b "Open-ended Working Group on an Optional Protocol to the ICESCR". UN OHCHR. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/escr/intro.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-13. 
  6. ^ "Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action". World Conference on Human Rights. 1993-07-12. http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G93/142/33/PDF/G9314233.pdf?OpenElement. Retrieved 2008-12-13. 
  7. ^ OP-ICESCR, Article 1.
  8. ^ OP-ICESCR, Article 3.
  9. ^ OP-ICESCR, Articles 6, 8 and 9.
  10. ^ OP-ICESCR, Article 10.
  11. ^ OP-ICESCR, Article 11.

External links

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