Caselaw Database

This is a database of positive domestic, regional and international legal decisions from around the world regarding economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights (ESCER). These case summaries provide greater awareness about ESCER issues globally, effective litigation strategies, progressive jurisprudence, and enforcement efforts. Our case summaries are available in English and Spanish, with more recent entries also available in French and Arabic.

The caselaw database is made possible by the support of ESCR-Net members, many of whom have contributed or reviewed cases, as well as several allies. ESCR-Net expresses its special appreciation to the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy at Northeastern University (PHRGE), which provides ongoing support to the case database. To suggest additional cases for inclusion, contact Felipe Mesel, Strategic Litigation Working Group Program Coordinator, at fmesel@escr-net.org.

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04/01/2021

Case Law | Equality and Non-discrimination

Mahlangu and Another v. Minister of Labour and Others, ZACC 24

At the time of her death, the deceased, Maria Mahlangu, was a domestic worker in a private home in South Africa. Ms. Mahlangu’s daughter and grandchild were financially dependent upon her at the time of her death. Ms. Mahlangu’s daughter asked the Department of Labour for help in the form...

09/02/2020

Case Law | Adequate Standard of Living (right to)

Nederlands Juristen Comité voor de Mensenrechten et al. v. The Netherlands, ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2020:1878

Seven parties, a human rights organization, a civil rights organization, a privacy rights organization, an organization that works for the privacy rights of clients of psychotherapists, a statute-made national council of client participants in government policymaking, and two individuals brought suit against the State of the Netherlands in March 2018,...

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10/22/2019

Case Law | Adequate Standard of Living (right to)

Judgment No. T-426/92

Petitioner, 69-year old Hernando de Jesus Blanco Angarita, filed a tutela action before the Constitutional Court after the First Civil Municipal Court of Bogota found that the National Social Security Fund had not violated his constitutional rights by delaying the transfer of his deceased wife’s pension. The Constitutional Court reversed...

08/06/2019

Case Law | Gender equality

Partido Socialista Brasileiro v. Ministro de Estado da Previdência e Assistência Social, ADI No. 1.946, 2003.

08/29/2018

Case Law | Equality and Non-discrimination

Marcia Cecilia Trujillo Calero v. Ecuador, CESCR, Communication 10/2015, UN Doc. E/C.12/63/D/10/2015 (26 March 2018)

07/09/2018

Case Law | Equality and Non-discrimination

The Queen on the application of Sheila Winder, Lisa Marie Dowen and Sarah Hampton v Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, [2014] EWHC 2617 (Admin)

02/28/2017

Case Law | Equality and Non-discrimination

Undocumented Workers v. United States of America, IACHR, Report No. 50/16, Case 12.834, Merits (Publication)