Resource Page on Justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR)

For Full List of Resources, See Below                                        Back to Caselaw Database

Latest articles and publications

Dossier for adjudication of ESC Rights

Legal documents 

Official speeches and statements

General bibliography on ESC Rights adjudication

Bibliography on adjudication of ESC Rights by thematic focus 

Bibliography on adjudication of ESC Rfights by jurisdiction

Complementary sources

Proceedings before domestic courts, administrative tribunals, international judicial and quasi-judicial bodies and other legal entities are key avenues through which the implementation of ESCR may be advanced. Human rights defenders and advocates are increasingly addressing life-threatening and other serious situations that relate to violations of ESCR: for example, the Treatment Action Campaign case is estimated to have saved tens of thousands of lives in South Africa by ensuring access to anti-retroviral drugs to pregnant woman living with HIV/AIDS so as to prevent mother-to-child-transmission of the HIV. In other cases, by activating judicial or quasi-judicial bodies evictions have been prevented or children have gained access to schools. Legal actions - especially when complemented with broader social mobilization, political activism and media campaigns - are important tools that may be employed to save or improve the lives of many people. The ESCR-Net Caselaw Database contains examples of instances in which legal strategies have been used successfully to claim ESCR at both the international and national levels.

Advocates seeking to litigate ESCR are faced with a number of challenges. Some of these challenges are similar to those that must be overcome by advocates seeking to bring cases involving civil and political rights (for example, the difficulty of clearly determining the definition of broad open-ended rights such as the freedom of expression or the right to social security).Others relate to historical or circumstantial characteristics (for instance, inadequate legal remedies to adjudicate these rights or unwillingness on the part of judges to address ESCR related claims).

Recognition of these challenges, however, should not be confused with the false notion that ESCR are not justiciable: that such rights are incapable of being claimed through judicial means. Nor do they imply that ESCR should not be enforced by courts in the same manner as civil and political rights. The cases in this Database - and many others elsewhere - confirm that economic, social and cultural rights, like all other human rights, impose a series of obligation (both positive and negative) upon States and that courts and other adjudicative bodies may determine, on a case by case basis, whether the rights have been violated, either by state action, inaction or a combination of both.

ESCR advocates are constantly devising innovative legal strategies to enforce ESCR in various legal, political and social contexts, sometimes directly arguing a violation of these rights, other times claiming them as components of civil and political rights such as the right to life, security of the person, or the right to freedom from discrimination.  The Caselaw database makes ESCR-related pleadings, commentary and decisions available to a wide audience of ESCR activists and defenders from a range of countries, legal traditions and languages (Spanish and English). In doing so, it serves to facilitate the exchange of information and strategies.  

1. LATEST ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS ON THE ADJUDICATION OF ESC RIGHTS

Alston, Philip. Establishing a Right to Petition under the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in: Henry Steiner, Philip Alston and Ryan Goodman, International Human Rights in Context. Law, Politics, Morals, Oxford University Press, 2008

Amnesty International. Make our Rights Law: Enforce Economic, Social and Cultural rights. (2010), 12 pages.  Available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ACT35/002/2010/en (retrieved on October 5, 2010).

Backer, Lorange. Ideal and Implementation-Ratifying another Complaints procedure? Nordic Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 27, nº 1:2009

Courtis, Christian/Sepúlveda, Magdalena. Are Extra-Territorial Obligations Reviewable under the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR? Nordic Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 27, nº 1:2009. Available at: http://www.jus.uio.no/smr/forskning/publikasjoner/ntmr/utgaver/2009/1/courtis.pdf (retrieved on January 11, 2010).

Evju, Stein. Should Norway Ratify the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR? That is the Question, Nordic Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 27, nº 1:2009. Available at: http://www.jus.uio.no/smr/forskning/publikasjoner/ntmr/utgaver/2009/1/evju.pdf (retrieved on January 11, 2010.)

Hunt, Paul. Taking Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Seriously. (speech delivered during an event organized by Human Rights Now, Tokyo, Japan - January, 9th, 2009). Available at http://www.ngo-hrn.org/index.html?http://www.ngo-hrn.org/active/090127e.html (retrieved on 11 January 2009)

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Courts and the Legal Enforcement of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Comparative Experiences of Justiciability, 2008, Human Rights and Rule of Law Series nº 2. Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a7840562.html (retrieved on 11 January 2010)

Langa, Pius. Taking Dignity Seriously. Judicial Reflections on the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 27, nº 1:2009. Available at: http://www.jus.uio.no/smr/forskning/publikasjoner/ntmr/utgaver/2009/1/langa.pdf (retrieved on January 11, 2010)

Langford, Malcom. Closing the Gap? An Introduction to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 27, nº 1: 2009

Porter, Bruce. The Reasonableness of Article 8(4). Adjudicating Claims from the Margins. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 27, nº 1:2009. Available at: http://www.jus.uio.no/smr/forskning/publikasjoner/ntmr/utgaver/2009/1/porter.pdf (retrieved on January 11, 2010)

Porter, Bruce. Justiciability of ESC Rights and the Right to Effective Remedies: Historic Challenges and New Opportunities, in: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR, (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Beijing, 2008. Available at: http://www.socialrights.ca/documents/beijing%20paper.pdf (retrieved on January 10, 2010)

Scheinin, Martin/ Langford, Malcom. Evolution or Revolution: Extrapolating from the experience of the Human Rights Committee. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 27, nº 1: 2009

Simmons, Beth A. Should States Ratify? Process and Consequences of the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR. Nordic Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 27, nº 1: 2009. Available at: http://www.jus.uio.no/smr/forskning/publikasjoner/ntmr/utgaver/2009/1/simmons.pdf (retrieved on January 11, 2010.)

UNDP Oslo Governance Centre. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (article based on interview with Christian Courtis & Ulrik Halsteen OHCHR, Human Rights & Social and Economic Issues Unit & Claire Mahon, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Project on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, HuriTalk Insight Series, Issued on 4 December 2008. Available at: http://www.undp.org/oslocentre/flagship/insight_04_en.html (retrieved on January 11, 2010).

Vandenbogaerde,Arne/Vandenhole,Wouter. The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: An Ex Ante Assessment of its Effectiveness in Light of the Drafting Process. Human Rights Law Review 2010 10: 207-237. Available at: http://hrlr.oxfordjournals.org/content/10/2/207.abstract

2. DOSSIER FOR ADJUDICATION OF ESC RIGHTS

Legal documents

Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, 1993, World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, 14-25 June 1993, UN document A/Conf.157/23

General Comment nº 9 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, "The domestic application of the Covenant", 03/12/98 E/C.12/1998/24, CESCR.

Masstricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Maastricht, January 22-26, 1997, http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/Maastrichtguidelines_.html

Official speeches and statements

Opening speech by Ms. Kyung-wha Kang Deputy High Commissioner, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Expert seminar: Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: future role of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Available at:http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/4CEDC45F13239F83C125765D0061D227?opendocument (retrieved on January 10, 2010).

Joint Statement of the UN Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts on the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Statement issued on 10 December 2008, available at: http://www.unog.ch, retrived on July 14, 2009.

General bibliography on ESC Rights adjudication

Albuquerque, Catarina de. Chronicle of an Announced Birth: The Coming into Life of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights-The Missing Piece of the International Bill of Human Rights. Human Rights Quarterly 32.1 (2010): 144-178. Available at: http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/human_rights_quarterly/v032/32.1.de-albuquerque.pdf

Alston, Philip. Ships Passing in the Night: The Current State of the Human Rights and Development Debate Seen Through the Lens of the Millennium Development Goals. Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 27, No.3 (Aug., 2005), pp. 755-829. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Available at: http://www.arts.yorku.ca/politics/ncanefe/courses/pols4255/pdf/Week%2011%20Weiss.pdf

Amnesty International. Human rights for human dignity: A primer on economic, social and cultural rights. (2005), 57 pages. Available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/POL34/009/2005/en/dom-POL340092005en.pdf.   Last access on April 8, 2008.

Baderin, Mashood A. / McCorquodale, Robert (eds.). Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Action, New York: Oxford University Press (2007), 350 pages. Available at: http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-921790-4.pdf. Last access on November 20, 2008.

Ebadolahi, Mitra, Using Structural Interdicts and the South African Human Rights Commission to Achieve Judicial Enforcement of Economic and Social Rights in South Africa (November 1, 2008). New York University Law Review, Vol. 83, No. 5, 2008. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1312452

Focus: Twenty years after the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS LAW JOURNAL Volume 6 No 2 2006. Available at: http://www.chr.up.ac.za/centre_publications/ahrlj/journals/ahrlj_vol06_no2_2006.pdf

Fredman, Sandra. Recognition or Redistribution: Reconciling Inequalities. South African Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 23, pp.214-234, 2007.

Fredman, Sandra. Providing Equality: Substantive Equality and the Positive Duty to Provide. South African Journal on Human Rights, Vol. 21, pp. 163-190, 2005; Oxford Legal Studies Research Paper No. 4/2006.

Gauri, Varun. Public Interest Litigation in India: Overreaching or Underachieving? (November 1, 2009). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, Vol. , pp. -, 2009. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1503803

Gloppen, Siri. Legal Enforcement of Social Rights: Enabling Conditions and Impact Assessment. Erasmus Law Review, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 465-480, 2009. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1542681

Golay, Christophe. The Right to Food and Access to Justice: Examples at the national, regional and international levels. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome, 2009. Available at: http://www.fao.org/righttofood/publi09/justiciability_en.pdf

International Commission of Jurists. Courts and the Legal Enforcement of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. (2008), 133 pages.

International Commission of Jurists. The Justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: National, Regional and International Experiences (2008), 5 pages. Available at: http://www.icj.org/IMG/pdf/3.pdf. Last access on November 10, 2008.

International Council on Human Rights Policy. Human Rights Standards: Learning from Experience (2006), 91 pages. Available at: http://www.ichrp.org/files/reports/31/120B_-_Report_FINAL.pdf. Last access on September 11, 2008.

International Council on Human Rights Policy. Performance & Legitimacy: National human rights institutions. 2nd ed. (2004), 155 pages. Available at: http://www.ichrp.org/files/reports/17/102_-National_Human_Rights_Institutions__2004__-_Main_Report.pdf. Last access on September 11, 2008.

International Human Rights Internship Program and Forum Asia for Human Rights and Development. Circle of Rights. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Activism: A Training resource (2000). Available at: http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/edumat/IHRIP/circle/toc.htm. Last access on April 8, 2008.

International Human Rights Internship Program. Ripple in Still Water. Reflections by Activists on Local- and National-Level Work on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1997). Available at: http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/edumat/IHRIP/ripple/toc.html. Last access on November 20, 2008.

Kamminga, Menno T. Final Report on the Impact of International Human Rights Law on General International Law. Report of the 73d Conference of the International Law Association, 2008. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1150664. Last access on June 21, 2010.

Kunneman, Rolf/ Epal-Ratjen., Sandra. The Right to Food: A Resource Manual for NGOs. AAAS, 2004. 120 pp. Available at: http://shr.aaas.org/manuals/rtf.shtml

Langford, Malcolm / Nolan, Aoife. Litigating Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Legal Practitioners Dossier. Center on Housing Rights and Evictions, (2006), 301 pages. Available at http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/COHRE%20Legal%20Practitioners%20Dossier.pdf. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Liebenberg, Sandra. Adjudicating the Positive Duties Imposed by Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Interights Bulletin. Vol. 15, No. 3, (2006), 64 pages. Available at http://www.interights.org/documentbank/index.htm?id=248. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Liebenberg, Sandra / Goldblatt, Beth. The Interrelationship Between Equality and Socio-Economic Rights Under South Africa's Transformative Constitution. South African Journal of Human Rights, 23, (2007), 27 pages.

Liebenberg, Sandra. The Value of Human Dignity in Interpreting Socio-Economic Rights. South African Journal on Human Rights, Vol. 21, Part 1 (2005).

Melish, Tara J. Rethinking the 'Less as More' Thesis: Supranational Litigation of Economic, Social And Cultural Rights in the Americas. Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, Working Paper No. 2 (2006), 164 pages. Available at: http://www.chrgj.org/publications/docs/wp/WPS_NYU_CHRGJ_Melish_Final.pdf. Last access on October 16, 2008.

Melish, Tara J. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Defending Social Rights Through Case-Based Petitions. ed., New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Available at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=339807

McChesney, Allan. Promoting and Defending Economic, Social & Cultural Rights: A Handbook. Washington D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science, HURIDOCS, 2000. xviii, 198 p. ISBN 0-87168-645-7. Available at: http://shr.aaas.org/escr/handbook/toc.htm

Nolan, Aoife / Porter, Bruce / Langford, Malcolm. The Justiciability of Social and Economic Rights: An Updated Appraisal. Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, Working Paper, nº 15 (2007), 39 pages. Available at http://www.chrgj.org/publications/docs/wp/NolanPorterLangford.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Nolan, Aoife et al. Leading Cases on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Summaries. Center on Housing Rights and Evictions (2007), 62 pages. Available at: http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/081007%20Leading%20ESC%20Rights%20Cases%20%28WP6%29.pdf. Last access on October 16, 2008.

Office of the United Nations. High Commissioner for Human Rights. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. General Comment n. 21 - Right of everyone to take part in cultural life (E/C.12/GC/21) (20 November 2009). Available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/comments.htm

Office of the United Nations. Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. (E/2009/90) (08 June 2009). Available at: http://www.nesri.org/media_updates/UNOnESCRImplementation-N0936290.pdf. Last access: June 23, 2010.

Roach, Kent / Budlender, Geoff. Mandatory Relief and Supervisory Jurisdiction: When is it Appropriate, Just and Equitable. South African Law Journal. Vol. 122, (2005), 27 pages. Available at http://www.escr-net.org/usr_doc/Kent_Roach_and_Geoff_Budlender.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Robertson, E. Robert. Measuring State Compliance with the Obligation to Devote the "Maximum Available Resources" to Realizing Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Nov., 1994), pp. 693-714. The Johns Hponkins University Press. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/762565

Robinson, Mary. Advancing Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: The Way Forward. Human Rights Quarterly 26/4 (November 2004), pp. 866-872. Available at: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/human_rights_quarterly/v026/26.4robinson.pdf

Shivani Verma. Justiciability of Economic Social and Cultural Rights Relevant Case Law. International Council on Human Rights Policy, 2005, 82 pages. Available at: http://www.ichrp.org/files/papers/96/108__Justiciability_of_Economic_Social_and_Cultural_Rights_-Relevant_Case_Law_Verma__Shivani__2005__background.pdf. Last access on September 11, 2008.

Squires, John / Langford, Malcolm / Thiele, Bret (eds.). The Road to a Remedy, Current Issues in the Litigation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Sydney: UNSW Press, 2005, 231 pages.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Report to ECOSOC on legal protection of economic, social and cultural rights, Substantive session of 2006, E/2006/86. (June/2006), 16 pages. Available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/escr/intro.htm. Last access on September 12, 2008.

Yamin, Alicia Ely/Parra-Vera,Oscar. Judicial protection of the right to health in Colombia: From social demands to individual claims to public debates (2010). Hastings International and Comparative Law Review vol. 33 no. 2 pp. 101-129f

Yamin, Alicia Ely. The Future in the Mirror: Incorporating Sftrategies for the Defense and Promotion of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights into the Mainstream Human Rights Agenda. Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 4 (Nov., 2005), pp. 1201-1244. The Johns Hponkins University Press. Available at: http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/petrie-flom/fellowship_program/2007_09_Global_Fellows/PDFs/Future%20in%20the%20Mirror.HRQ%2027.4%20.pdf

Bibliography on adjudication of ESC Rights by thematic focus 

Enforcement of ESC Rights

Cali, Basak/Wyss, Alice. Why Do Democracies Comply with Human Rights Judgments? A Comparative Analysis of the UK, Ireland and Germany. 34 pages. Available at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1462281. Last access on June, 15, 2010.

Cavallaro, James L. and Brewer, Stephanie E. Reevaluating Regional Human Rights Litigation in the Twenty-First Century: The Case of the Inter-American Court . The American Journal of International Law, Vol. 102, p. 768, 2008; Harvard Public Law Working Paper nº 09-31. Available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1404608. Last access on June, 15, 2010.

Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS). La lucha por el derecho. 1a ed. Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI Editores Argentina, 2008. 272 p. Available at: http://www.escr-net.org/usr_doc/CELS,_La_Lucha_por_el_Derecho.pdf

Gloppen, Sir. Legal Enforcement of Social Rights: Enabling Conditions and Impact Assessment. Erasmus Law Review, Vol. 2, nº 4, 2009, pp. 465-480. Available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1542681. Last access on June, 15, 2010.

Jackman, Martha. Charter Remedies for Socio-Economic Rights Violations:Sleeping Under a Box? Forthcoming in: Kent Roach, ed., Taking Remedies Seriously (Montréal: Les Éditions Yvon Blais, 2010). Available at: http://www.escr-net.org/usr_doc/Jackman_Charter_Remedies_for_Socio-economic_Rights_Violations.pdf

Mbazira, Christopher. You are the "weakest link" in realizing socio-economic rights: Goodbye. Strategies for effective implementation of court orders in South Africa. Socio-Economic Rights Project. Community Law Centre -University of the Western Cape, 2008, 63 pages. Available at: http://www.escr-net.org/usr_doc/Mbazira,_Weakest_Link_in_Realising_Socio-Economic_Rights.pdf

Mukundi, George/Ayinla, Abiola. Twenty years of elusive enforcement of the recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights: A possible remedy. In: African Human Rights Law Journal. Juta Law Ed. Vol. 6, nº 2 (2006), pp. 465-492. Available at: http://www.escr-net.org/usr_doc/AJHR_-Twenty_years_of_elusive_enforcement_in_ACHPR.pdf

Equality

Cahn, Claude. Roma Rights, Racial Discrimination and ESC Rights. Council of Europe (August/2005). Available at: http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/romatravellers/Documentation/discrimination/RomaESC_en.asp. Last access on October 21, 2008.

Porter, Bruce. Beyond Andrews: Substantive Equality and Positive Obligations After Eldridge and Vriend. Constitutional Forum, Vol. 9, nº. 3, (1999), 12 pages. Available at: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/ccs/pdfs/9-3porter.pdf. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Healthy Environment

Van der Linde, Morné / Louw, Lorette. Considering the Interpretation and Implementation of Article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights in Light of the SERAC Communication. African Human Rights Law Journal, Vol.3, pp. 167-187, (2003). Available at: http://www.chr.up.ac.za/centre_publications/ahrlj/journals/ahrlj_vol03_no1_2003.pdf. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Housing Rights

Nolan, Aoife. Litigating Housing Rights: Experiences and Issues. Dublin University Law Journal, Vol. 26 (2006). To have a copy, please write to quarterly@cohre.org.

Liebenberg, Sandra. Towards A Right to Alternative Accommodation? South Africa's Constitutional Jurisprudence on Evictions. Housing and ESC Rights Law Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 3, (2005), 8 pages. Available at: http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/Housing%20%26%20ESC%20Rights%20Law%20QuarterlyVol2%20No3.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Wesson, Murray. Grootboom and Beyond: Assessing the Socio-Economic Jurisprudence of the South African Constitutional Court. South African Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 20, No. 284, (2004), 25 pages. Available at: http://www.law.wits.ac.za/sajhr/2004/wesson.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Ramanathan, Usha. Illegality and Exclusion: Law in the Lives of Slumdwellers. International Environmental Law Research Center, Working Paper, (2004), 22 pages. Available at: http://www.ielrc.org/content/w0402.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Budlender, Geoff. The Justiciability of the Right to Housing: The South African Experience. Legal Resources Center, (2003), 20 pages. Available at: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/jc/papers/jc_2003/judges_papers/budlender_housing_ms.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Kthari, Jayna. Right of Housing: Constitutional Perspective on India and South Africa. Lawyers Collective (2001), 15 pages. Available at: www.escr-net.org/usr_doc/kothari_article.doc.

Indigenous Peoples Rights

Stavenhagen, Rodolfo. Indigenous Peoples and Their Access to Human Rights. International Council on Human Rights Policy, (2003), 17 pages. Available at: http://www.ichrp.org/files/papers/102/123_-Indigenous_Peoples_and_their_Access_to_Human_Rights_Stavenhagen__Rodolfo__2003.pdf. Last access on September 11, 2008.

Scheinin, Martin. The Right to Enjoy a Distinct Culture: Indigenous and Competing Uses of Land. In: Orlin, Thodore / Rosas, Allan / Scheinin, Martin (eds.). The Jurisprudence of Human Rights Law: A Comparative Interpretive Approach, Abo: Institute for Human Rights, Abo Akademi University, (2000), 244 pages.

Maximum Available Resources

Robertson, Robert. Measuring State Compliance with the Obligation to Devote the 'Maximum Available Resources' to Realizing Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Human Rights Quarterly, vol. 16, p. 695, (1994).

Non State-Actors

Meeran, Richard. Liability of Multinational Corporations: A Critical Stage (1999). Available at http://www.labournet.net/images/cape/campanal.htm. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Jochnick, Chris. Confronting the Impunity of Non-State Actors: New Fields for the Promotion of Human Rights. Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 21, pp. 56-79, (1999). Available at http://cesr.org/node/281. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Dubin, Laurence. The Direct Application of Human Rights Standards to, and by, Transnational Corporations. International Commission of Jurists: The Review, pp. 56-79, (1999).

Persons with Disabilities

Harvard Project on Disability. We Have Human Rights: A Human Rights Handbook for People with Developmental Disabilities (2008), 28 pages. Available at: http://www.hpod.org/pdf/we-have-human-rights.pdf. Last access on September 23, 2008.

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. From Exclusion to Equality, Realizing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:Handbook for Parliamentarians on the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and its optional protocol. (2007), 163 pages. Available at: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/training14en.pdf. Last access on September 12, 2008.

Lord, Janet / Guernsey, Katherine / Balfe, Joelle / Karr, Valerie. Human Rights.Yes! Action and Advocacy on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In: Flowers, Nancy (ed.), Human Rights Education Series, BlueLaw LLP and Disabled Peoples' International, (2007), 318 pages. Available at: http://www.hpod.org/pdf/HumanRightsYes.pdf. Last access on September 23, 2008.   

Reasonableness

Liebenberg, Sandra. Enforcing Positive Socio-Economic Rights Claims: The South African Model of Reasonableness Review. In Langford, Malcolm / Thiele, Bret (eds.), Litigation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: The State of Play, Sydney: The University of New South Wales Press, (2005), 29 pages. Available at: http://www.srap.ca/publications/porter_toward_a_comprehensive_framework_for_esc_rights_practice.pdf. Last access on October 21, 2008.

Right to Education

The International Center for Legal Protection of Human Rights. Empowering the Next Generation: Securing the right to education in the new millenium. Interights Bulletin, Vol.15, No. 4, (2007), 56 pages. Available at: http://www.interights.org/documentbank/index.htm?id=246. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Alston, Philip / Buta, Nehal. Human Rights and Public Goods: Education as a Fundamental Right in India. New York University, Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, Working Paper No. 6 (2005), 35 pages. Available at: http://www.chrgj.org/publications/docs/wp/Alston&Bhuta%20Human%20Rights%20and%20Public%20Goods%20-%20%20Education%20as%20a%20Fundamental%20Right%20in%20India.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Kumar, C. Raj. International Human Rights Perspectives on the Fundamental Right to Education: Integration of Human Rights and Human Development in the Indian Constitution. Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law, Vol. 12, pp. 237-285, (Spring/2004).

Right to Food

Narula, Smita. The Right to Food: Holding Global Actors Accountable Under International Law. New York University Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, Working Paper No. 7, (2006), 90 pages. Available at: http://www.chrgj.org/publications/docs/wp/WPS_NYU_CHRGJ_Narula_Final.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Mahabel, Kamayani Bali. Enforcing the Right to Food in India: The impact of social activism. ESR Review, Vol. 5, n. 1 (2004).

Chiudhury, Arundhuti Roy. Engaging people in right to food and work litigation. PLA Notes, Vol. 43 (2002), 3 pages. Available at: http://www.planotes.org/documents/plan_04306.pdf.Last access on April 1, 2008.

Right to Health 

Byrne, Iain. Making the Right to Health a Reality: Legal Strategies for Effective Implementation. Paper presented at Commonwealth Law Conference, London (2005), 25 pages. Available at: http://www.escr-net.org/usr_doc/health_paper.doc. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Friedman, Steven / Mottiar, Shauna. A Moral to the Tale: The Treatment Action Campaign and the Politics of HIV/AIDS. Centre for Policy Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, (2004), 32 pages. Available at: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/ccs/files/Friedman%20Mottier%20TAC%20Research%20Report%20Short.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Heywood, Mark. Preventing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in South Africa; Background, Strategies and Outcomes of the Treatment Action Campaign Case against the Minister of Health. South African Journal on Human Rights, Vol. 19, No. 3, (2003), 38 pages. Available at http://www.tac.org.za/Documents/MTCTCourtCase/Heywood.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Right to Water 

Center on Housing Rights and Evictions. Legal Resources on the Right to Water and Sanitation: International and National Standards. 2nd ed., 2008, 330 pages. Available at: http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/RWP-Legal_Res_1st_Draft_web.pdf. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Fairstein, Carolina. Legal Strategies and the right to Water in Argentina. In: Riedel, Eibe / Rothen, Peter (ed.), The Human Right to Water, Berlin: Berliner WissenschaftsVerlag, (2006). Briefing paper available at: http://www.deza.admin.ch/ressources/resource_en_170500.pdf. Last access on October 21, 2008.

Social Rights

Langford, Malcolm (ed.). Social Rights Jurisprudence: Emerging Trends in Comparative and International Law, Cambridge University Press, Forthcoming.Van Rensburg, Linda Jansen / Lamarche, Lucie. The Right to Social Security and Assistance. In: Brand, Danie / Heyns, Christof (eds.), Socio-Economic Rights in South Africa, Pretoria: PULP, (2005), 40 pages: Available at: http://www.chr.up.ac.za/centre_publications/socio/book/Chapter%207-Social%20Security.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Langford, Malcolm. Judging Social Rights. Human Rights Tribune, Vol. 11, no. 3, (2005), 74 pages. Available at: http://www.hri.ca/pdfs/HRT%20Volume%2011,%20No.3%20Autumn%202005.pdf. Last access on October 21, 2008.

Krause, Catarina / Schinin, Martin. The Right Not to Be Discriminated Against: The Case of Social Security. In: Orlin, Thodore / Rosas, Allan / Scheinin, Martin (eds.). The Jurisprudence of Human Rights Law: A Comparative Interpretive Approach, Abo: Institute for Human Rights, Abo Akademi University, 2000, 244 pages.

Bibliography on adjudication of ESC Rights by jurisdiction 

Universal jurisdiction 

Redress and Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme. Universal Jurisdiction in the European Union: Country Studies (2001), 45 pages. Available at: http://www.redress.org/conferences/country%20studies.pdf. Last access on September 11, 2008.

Wesley Gryk. Universal Jurisdiction - Fighting Impunity: Developing an NGO Agenda. International Council on Human Rights Policy Working Paper (1999), 14 pages. Available at: http://www.ichrp.org/files/papers/98/201_-Universal_Jurisdiction_-Fighting_Impunity_Gryk__Wesley__1999.pdf. Last access on September 11, 2008.

International Council on Human Rights Policy. Hard Cases: Bringing Human Rights Violators to Justice Abroad: A Guide to Universal Jurisdiction. (1999), 72 pages. Available at: http://www.ichrp.org/files/reports/5/201_-Universal_Jurisdiction__Hard_Cases_.pdf. Last access on September 11, 2008.

European System

Churchill, Robin R./ Khaliq, Urfan. The European Committee on Social Rights, in: Langford, Malcolm (ed.). Social Rights Jurisprudence: Emerging Trends in International and Comparative Law. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006, 704 pages.

Langford, Malcolm. Gathering Steam? A Review of Recent Cases from the European Committee on Social Rights. Housing & ESC Rights Law Quarterly, Vol. 2, n. 2, 2005, pp. 4-6. Available at http://www.escr-net.org/usr_doc/Vol2-No2-Quarterly.pdf. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Churchill, Robin R./ Khaliq, Urfan. The Collective Complaints System of the European Social Charter: An Effective Mechanism for Ensuring Compliance with Economic and Social Rights? European Journal of International Law. Vol. 15, n. 3, 2004, pp. 417-456.

African System 

Juma, Dan. Access to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights: A Case of the Poacher turned Gamekeeper. Essex Human Rights Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2007, 21 pages. Available at: http://projects.essex.ac.uk/ehrr/V4N2/juma.pdf. Last access on October 9, 2008.

Mbazira, Christopher. The right to health and the nature of socio-economic rights obligations under the African Charter: The Purohit case. Economic Self-Reliance Center Review, Vol.6, No.4, 2005. Available at www.communitylawcentre.org.za/.../esr-previous-editions/esrreviewnov2005.pdf/attachment_download/file. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Chirwa, Danwood. Toward Revitalizing Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Africa: Social and Economic Rights Action Centre and the Center for Economic and Social Rights v. Nigeria. Human Rights Brief, Vol.10, No.1, 2002. Available at
http://www.wcl.american.edu/hrbrief/10/1africa.cfm. Last access on April 8, 2008.

Odinkalu, Anselm Chidi. Analysis of Paralysis or Paralysis by Analysis? Implementing Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 23, No.2, 2001, pp. 327-369.

Nakuta, John. The Justiciability of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights in Namibia and the Role of the Non-Governmental Organizations. Berlin: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, 12 pages. Available at: http://www.kas.de/upload/auslandshomepages/namibia/HumanRights/nakuta.pdf.  Last access on September 9, 2008.

Asia Region 

Rajagopal, Balakrishnan. Pro-Human Rights but Anti-Poor? A Critical Evaluation of the Indian Supreme Court from a Social Movement Perspective. Human Rights Review, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 157-187, 2007, 30 pages. Available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1013656. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Muralidhar, Shri. Implementation of Court Orders in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: An Overview of the Experience of the Indian Judiciary. International Environmental Law Research Centre, Working Paper, 2002, 12 pages. Available at: http://www.ielrc.org/content/w0202.pdf. Last access on April 1, 2008.

Complementary sources

For a wide range of articles of various aspects of ESR litigation and adjudication at both the national and international levels, please see the following publications:

Housing & ESC Rights Law Quarterly, available at: www.cohre.org

ESR Review, available at: http://www.communitylawcentre.org.za/Socio-Economic-Rights/esr-review  

  

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