The Group of Friends of the ESCR highlights the importance of ESCR to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

On 23 June 2016, the Group of Friends of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) issued a collective statement on the importance of advancing ESCR to the UN Human Rights Council during the 32nd session in Geneva. 

As put forth in the statement, "The members of the Group of Friends of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights share a commitment to cooperate with the UN bodies tasked with the promotion and protection of human rights, and in particular with their efforts to strengthen the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination of any kind". 

The Group of Friends of ESCR maintains that the promotion of ESCR in the multilateral framework requires a solid, functional and active institutional components. As such, the Group welcomes the dedication and work of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the staff of his Office.

This statement builds on one released in March, in which the Group of Friends highlighted that "the celebration in 2016 of the twin annivesaries of ICESCR and ICCPR is a reminder to us all of how universality overcomes division, of how the inherent dignity of the human being is the driving force for achieving the ideals of the United Nations".

The Group of Friends of ESCR is a broad association of States, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as civil society institutions, which have coalesced around a shared commitment to the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights.