The activities and actions of ESCR-Net are carried out by Members and active participants working from different countries in a coordinated, collective way through a Working Group or Initiative. ESCR-Net also undertakes urgent actions or Membership-wide activities. ESCR-Net seeks to strengthen economic, social and cultural rights by working with activists and practitioners worldwide to facilitate mutual learning and strategy exchange, to develop new tools and resources, and to engage in joint advocacy.
Nairobi, Kenya: December 1-4, 2008
View Reports from the meeting, the plenary and working sessions, the ESCR-Net General Assembly, and the Social Movements and Grassroots Gathering.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: Ecuador Ratifies OP-ICESCR on June 11, 2010
ESCR-Net and the NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR congratulate Ecuador on being the first country to undertake all steps to ratify the OP-ICESCR. Ratification of the instrument symbolizes Ecuador's commitment to upholding its international human rights obligations and realizing economic, social and cultural rights.
To access the list of countries that have signed and/or ratified the Protocol, visit http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-3-a&chapter=4&lang=en
On August 19, 2009 the first hearing took place and Mr. Golden Misabiko was released on bail by the Court of Lubumbashi/Kamalondo. Misabiko remains on conditional bail pending further hearings. ESCR-Net will keep Members informed should further action be needed.
The International Coaltion of NGO for an Optional Protocol has issued a call addressed to civil society to draw its attention to the upcoming elections of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Committee) and urges it to get involved to ensure the election of independent members with strong ESCR expertise.
Cela fait maintenant plus de deux ans, qu'est survenue la plus grande crise financière et récession économique mondiale depuis plus de cinquante ans. Et pourtant, il reste à analyser comment nos gouvernements ont réagi à cette crise de manière à respecter la dignité fondamentale des peuples et droits de l'homme. Participer à un questionnaire portant sur les réponses de votre gouvernement face à la crise La politique financière nous concerne tous - Votre voix doit être entendue!
It has been more than two years now since the start of the largest financial meltdown and global economic recession in over fifty years. And yet, how have our governments responded to this crisis in such a way as to uphold people's fundamental dignity and human rights? ESCR-Net--together with AWID, CESR, Center of Concern and the Center for Women's Global Leadership--present this joint report analyzing government responses to the crisis from a human rights perspective.
In response to a request by an ESCR-Net member, we have written an urgent action letter (attached and below) urging to Mexican authorities to take all necessary measures to clarify the assassination of rights activists Beatriz Alberta Cariño, head of ESCR-Net member CACTUS (Community Working Together Support Center), and Jiry Antero Jaakkola, a citizen of Finland, who was killed this past April 27th, identify and punish all those responsible, and provide immediate and effective protection for his family and colleagues.
Read our June 2010 joint statement on business and human rights at the Human Rights Council.
Statement by Navanethem Pillay, United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights during the signing ceremony of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, held in New York on September 29, 2009.
June 2009 - Read ESCR-Net's Statement on the Financial Crisis and Global Economic Recession: Towards a Human Rights Response.
July 2010 - Please consider sharing your reports documenting business-related human rights abuse
On June 20, 2009 ESCR-Net coordinated a gathering of underrepresented groups to talk about how the economic crisis is affecting them.
Do you have photos that show the effects businesses have on human rights? Consider donating them to the Business and Human Rights Documentation (B-HRD) Project!
The Coalition of NGO-s for an OP-ICESCR calls upon civil society to influence ECOSOC Member States to vote only for independent and capable members to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The elections of 9 new members will take place in New York (28-29 April 2010.)
Human Rights organizations submitted a report to the United Nations in Geneva today on the United States failure to hold corporations, including private government contractors, accountable for human rights abuses ranging from human trafficking to murder.
Read this joint submission on the human rights implications of the financial crisis and subsequent domestic policy responses in the USA. In particular, it focuses on the human rights obligation to protect and fulfill economic and social rights as well as the need for transparency, accountability and participation in the making of macroeconomic policy.