Strategic Litigation / Activities and Actions

Paraguay: Restitute lands of the Sawhoyamaxa indigenous community

On 9 December, 2013, ESCR-Net sent a letter to the Government of Paraguay to express the Network's collective support for the prompt implementation of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ legally-binding decision on the case the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous Community v. Paraguay (March 29, 2006), requiring the restitution of the Sawhoyamaxa’s original lands.

Indigenous Communities in Paraguay and Ecuador Sign Declaration to Promote Enforcement of Decisions related to the Right to Land

Representatives of the Sarayaku people (Ecuador), Dejusticia (Colombia), and Fundación Pachamama (Ecuador) , with the support of ESCR-Net, came together at meetings organized by the Enxet-Sanapaná people together with Tierraviva (Paraguay) on September 26-27. The discussions focused on enforcing decisions by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR).

Key Factors in using Strategic Litigation

IELSUR, ESCR-Net and the NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR organized an open public event and workshop on strategic litigation under the OP-ICESCR on August 14-15 in Montevideo. Leading domestic organizations in Uruguay attended the event.

Protecting economic, social and cultural rights in BiH

The International Network on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) held workshops in Mostar and Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in mid-June 2013, in collaboration with the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the participation of Interights.

Advancing ESCR in Mongolia and China – Lawyers, community leaders and academics gathered for strategic litigation workshops

On April 17-19, 2013, ESCR-Net and the Center for Human Rights and Development brought together lawyers, experts, and community leaders from Mongolia to enhance knowledge about the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR; build networks of solidarity and support among lawyers and activists and support Mongolian organizations to identify potential cases that could be advanced under the OP-ICESCR.

Restituting the land to the Endorois People: a 40-year process

In November 2012, members of the Adjudication Working Group at ESCR-Net —including the Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya), Minority Rights Group (UK), Socio-Economic Rights Institute (South Africa), and Norwegian Center for Human Rights (Norway)—facilitated a strategic meeting with leaders of the Endorois community in Kenya, focused on advancing full implementation of the unprecedented recommendations issued by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights regarding evictions in the Endorois case.

Africa Regional Social Rights Litigation Workshop: 12-14 March 2012, Johannesburg South Africa

ESCR-Net together with SERI, the NGO Coalition for the OP-ICESCR and the Norwegian Centre on Human Rights convened a three-day workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Discussion Notes for Day 1: OP-ICESCR Commentary

Below please find the draft outlines / discussion notes developed by authors of a Commentary on the OP-ICESCR, currently in development. These notes and outlines will be relevant for the roundtable sessions on Day 1 of the workshop. Please quickly review them as the authros would appreciate...