Drafting on an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural (OP-ICESCR) rights begins!

At its inaugural session, the Human Rights Council passed a resolution to extend the mandate of the Open-Ended Working Group on an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) by an additional two years. More importantly, the Chair of this Working Group, Catarina de Albuquerque, has been mandated to begin developing the first draft of the OP-ICESCR. This represents a significant victory for all those who have been involved in the campaign for an OP-ICESCR.

The OP-ICESCR will allow individuals whose rights under the ICESCR have been violated, to lodge individual complaints against their governments and seek redress. It is an important step towards enhancing the protection of rights enshrined under the ICESCR, such as health, housing and education.

To ensure that this draft is eventually adopted in its most comprehensive and progressive form, more work needs to be done! For all interested, contact us at iwraw-ap@iwraw-ap.org

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This page was last updated on August 3, 2006

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