ESCR-Net March/April 2014 Newsletter

Publish Date: 
Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) involves over 250 Members in 70 countries, together building “a global movement to make human rights and social justice a reality for all”.

  • Monitoring of ESCR Working Group launches a new website to facilitate information-sharing and mutual learning, featuring a resource library, a monthly on-line discussion forum and a blog containing recent news about monitoring techniques.
  • Corporate Accountability Working Group advances advocacy for binding regulation and effective remedy in Geneva at meetings organized by the Permanent Mission of Norway in February and the Permanent Missions of Ecuador and South Africa in March, in advance of the passage of relevant business and human rights resolutions at the Human Rights Council in June.
  • Women and ESCR Working Group facilitated a side event on "Women's ESCR: A Vital Framework for Fulfilling and Strengthening the MDGs" during the UN Commission on the Status of Women and organized strategic discussions with the working group members present in New York.
  • NGO Coalition for the OP-ICESCR advances ratification campaign in New York, during the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and in South Africa, via a national workshop. 

 

Upcoming events and activities

  • ESCR-Net’s Working Group of Social Movements and Grassroots Groups (SMWG) will hold a leadership exchange in Lima, Peru, May 26-30, to be hosted by the Peasants Confederation of Peru (CCP), in close collaboration with the Andean Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations (CAOI).
  • ESCR-Net's Working Group on Strategic Litigation will facilitate an OP-ICESCR Workshop in Montenegro, 26-27 May 2014, in partnership with Action for Human Rights (HRA) and Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM). 
  • On April 9, a public side event will take place in New York in the lead-up to the first anniversary of the OP-ICESCR's entry into force, with a keynote speech by Ms. Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
  • Take action to end threats and harassment against human rights defenders in Philippines.