December 10, 2009 marks the first anniversary of the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. On this occasion, the International Coalition of NGO issued a statement calling upon States and civil society to mobilize their efforts for a rapid ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol.
Statement by Navanethem Pillay, United Nations 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 24, 2009.
Luis Pedernera, Coordinator of IELSUR, an ESCR-Net Member Organization, criticizes Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez's failure to put human rights at the forefront of the country's public safety policy.
The Wits Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) has won third prize in a global award offered by the US-based Business Ethics Network (BEN), for the Phiri water rights campaign.
A motion on business and human rights was passed today through Federal Parliament with the support of the Government (the motion is attached). The press release welcoming the move is below.
African Human Rights NGOs meeting in Maputo to address the economic, social and cultural root causes of torture call on Governments to make Africa a torture-free continent.
The 6th edition of the Education for All Global Monitoring Report will be launched on 29 November at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The report assesses progress towards the six education for all goals midway to 2015, the target date for achieving them.