Geneva Forum 2014 on enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights

Publish Date: 
Thursday, December 11, 2014

On 4 and 5 December 2014, the International Commission or Jurists (ICJ) welcomed judges and lawyers from all regions of the world to discuss the “Judicial Enforcement of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”. The 2014 Geneva Forum of Judges and Lawyers is a joint initiative of the Center for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (CIJL) and the ICJ Programme on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights."

Participants exchanged views on the progress made over the past two decades, including the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in May 2013. The Protocol allows individuals to bring complaints of violations of such rights to an independent international body of experts for adjudication.

Discussions were held also in relation to challenges to the justiciability of these rights, including as regards the principle of separation of powers between the judicial, executive and legislative branches of government.

Managing potential implications for public human and financial resources of judicial orders for enforcement of ESCR, and the conflicts that may arise between state development plans, public interest and the interests and rights of the individuals, were also topics of discussion. Participants were invited to ground the discussion of conceptual issues in examples from their own actual experience and practice in their national jurisdictions.

For more information on the agenda and participantes, please visit http://www.icj.org/geneva-forum-2014/

Source, photo and videos: ICJ.

On video: prominent voices from the Geneva Forum 2014

Jacqueline Dugard, Hina Jilani, Rodrigo Uprimny Yepes, Gilles Badet, Alejandra Ancheita and Harsh Mander talked about their experience and the situation of economic, social and cultural rights in their respective countries.

Jacqueline Dugard - Interview - International Commission of Jurists - Geneva Forum 2014 from True Heroes Films on Vimeo.

Interview with Hina Jilani - International Commission of Jurists - Geneva Forum 2014 from True Heroes Films on Vimeo.

Interview with Rodrigo Uprimny Yepes - International Commission of Jurists - Geneva Forum 2014 from True Heroes Films on Vimeo.

Interview with Gilles Badet - International Commission of Jurists - Geneva Forum 2014 from True Heroes Films on Vimeo.

Interview with Alejandra Ancheita - International Commission of Jurists - Geneva Forum 2014 from True Heroes Films on Vimeo.

Interview with Harsh Mander - International Commission of Jurists - Geneva Forum 2014 from True Heroes Films on Vimeo.

Video source: http://www.icj.org/geneva-forum-2014-video/#!lightbox/0/

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