International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Working together to make human rights a reality for all.
Member News
INVITATION À PRÉSENTER RAPPORTS SUR LES DROITS HUMAINS: Le projet de documentation sur les entreprises et les droits humains (B-HRD.org)
Juillet 2010 - Pensez à partager vos rapports relatifs aux violations des droits humains liées aux entreprises
ESCR-Net's Video Page - Visit the HUB!
ESCR-Net introduces an exciting project by ESCR-Net member, WITNESS.
International Strategy Meeting on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and ESCR-Net General Assembly: Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya: December 1-4, 2008
View Reports from the meeting, the plenary and working sessions, the ESCR-Net General Assembly, and the Social Movements and Grassroots Gathering.
Call for Action on the Elections of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The International Coaltion of NGO for an Optional Protocol has issued a call addressed to civil society to draw its attention to the upcoming elections of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Committee) and urges it to get involved to ensure the election of independent members with strong ESCR expertise.
Bringing Human Rights to Bear in Times of Crisis: A human rights analysis of government responses to the economic crisis
It has been more than two years now since the start of the largest financial meltdown and global economic recession in over fifty years. And yet, how have our governments responded to this crisis in such a way as to uphold people's fundamental dignity and human rights? ESCR-Net--together with AWID, CESR, Center of Concern and the Center for Women's Global Leadership--present this joint report analyzing government responses to the crisis from a human rights perspective.
April 19, 2010: Macroeconomics:Towards a Human Rights-Centered Macro-Economic and Financial Policy in the US
Read this joint submission on the human rights implications of the financial crisis and subsequent domestic policy responses in the USA. In particular, it focuses on the human rights obligation to protect and fulfill economic and social rights as well as the need for transparency, accountability and participation in the making of macroeconomic policy.
Joint Statement - Business and Human Rights at the Human Rights Council - 2010
Read our June 2010 joint statement on business and human rights at the Human Rights Council.
Workshop: Strategic Litigation Initiative in Support of the OP-ICESCR, October 12-13, 2010
ESCR-Net, together with the Social and Economic Rights Programme of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, and the Social Rights Advocacy Centre and in consultation with the with the NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR, will organize a two day workshop to discuss both substantive and structural issues in the development of this initiative.
Take Action! Support the Optional Protocol
December 10, 2010 marks the second anniversary of the adoption of the Optional Protocol. On this occasion, we encourage you to contact your government and make a call for ratification/ accession. So far 3 countries have ratified the Protocol, so we need 7 more for it to enter into force and many more to ensure it lives up to its potential. Included are model letters and press releases you can use to facilitate this action.
Workshop: Claiming Women's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Penang Malaysia, Dec. 3-6, 2010
ESCR-Net and IWRAW Asia Pacific are organizing a pilot-testing and capacity-building workshop in Penang, Malaysia, December 3-6, 2010 to advance the potential of using ICESCR/OP-ICESCR and CEDAW/OP-CEDAW to enhance implementation of women's economic, social and cultural rights domestically.
CEDAW's Role in Realizing Women's ESCR: Oct. 19, 2010 Briefing
The Women and ESCR working group of ESCR-Net, particularly, IWRAW Asia Pacific, the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, will be holding a briefing with CEDAW Committee during the 47th review session in Geneva on October 19th, 2010.
ESCR-Net Social Movement & Grassroots Working Group- Human Rights Mutual Learning Workshop & 3rd Solidarity Visit - Brazil 2010
ESCR-Net's Social Movement and Grassroots Working Group (SMWG) celebrated its 3rd Solidarity Visits and Mutual Learning Workshop together with the Movement of Landless Workers (MST) and Terra de Direitos from the 8th to the 13th of November 2010 at the Escola Nacional Florestan Fernandes.
Panel: Women's ESCR in Kenya under the New Constitution, March 2nd, 2011
FIDA Kenya and ESCR-Net will be organizaing a two part discussion on strategies for advocacy and litigation on women's ESCR under Kenya's new Constitution, which enshrines economic, social and cultural rights.
Advocacy with UN Women: Promote ESCR in Strategy and Program
ESCR-Net's Women and ESCR Group is advocating that UN Women make human rights and particularly economic, social and cultural rights a central framework for all thier areas of work. View advocacy documents in English, Spanish and French.
مبادئ كوالا لمبور التوجيھية لنھج حقوق الانسان في السياسة الاقتصاد
في سياق التقارب الذي لا مثيل له من أزمات فى المواد الغذائية والطاقة والمناخ ، والمالية ، والأزمات البيئية والاقتصادية ، جاءت مجموعة من المدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان من مختلف مجالات الخبرة من كل مناطق العالم معا في كوالالمبور ، ماليزيا لتطوير مبادئ كوالالمبور التوجيهية لنهج حقوق الإنسان في السياسة الاقتصادية في الزراعة، أو ' مبادئ كوالالمبور التوجيهية' ، و مع التسليم بأن القانون هو باستمرار في عملية التحول ، وإدراكا للدور الأساسي للجماعات والحركات الاجتماعية في تشكيله بطريقة تتمسك بمبادئ العدالة الاجتماعية ، فأن مبادئ كوالالمبور التوجيهية تهدف إلى المساهمة في مزيد من التفسير للقانون الدولي لحقوق الإنسان فيما يتعلق بتصميم وتنفيذ ورصد القانون والسياسة الاقتصادية والمتعلقة بالزراعة. و على هذا، فأن المبادئ التوجيهية التالية قد صممت كأداة لتوفير معلومات أساسية ومنهجية لاستخدامها من قبل أي شخص معني بضمان أولوية ومركزية حقوق الإنسان للمتضررين من التجارة والاستثمار والقواعد المالية وغيرها من أنواع السياسات الاقتصادية ذات الصلة بالزراعة
Kuala Lumpur Guidelines for a Human Rights Approach to Economic Policy in Agriculture
May 10, 2011 NESRI: victory for universal health care in U.S.
Last week, Vermont passed the first-ever universal health care bill in the U.S., creating a path toward a publicly financed system that will provide health care as a public good for all
Intensive Course on Justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Theory and Practice
The Institute for Human Rights, Abo Akademi University; Chair in Human Rights Law, Stellenbosch University Law Faculty, South Africa; and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo are jointly organizing a Course on Justiciability of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: Theory and Practice.
The Human Right to Food: International Fact-Finding Mission to Bolivia, February 5-14, 2011
An international fact-finding mission organized by Rights & Democracy in collaboration with La Coordinadora de integración de organizaciones económicas, campesinas, indígenas y originarias de Bolivia (CIOEC) arrives in Bolivia.
2/4/11 Joint Statements on Ruggie Draft Released
UPDATE - Members of the Egyptian Center for Housing Rights Have Been Released
The three members of the Egyptian Center for Housing Rights (ESCR-Net members) have been released from detainment in Egyptian prisons.
Letter from Human Rights NGOs to Officials on Security and Health Situation in Egyptian Prisons
Read a new letter from ESCR-Net member on the security and health situation in Egyptian prisons.
12/10/10: “Human Rights Can Fix Our Broken Agricultural System,” Advocates Argue
12/15/10: Déclaration sur le Soixante deuxième anniversaire de la Déclaration Universelle des Droits de l'Homme
La CDJP et la RPDH appellent le gouvernement à faire un lien entre la croissance positive des revenus pétroliers et une meilleure prise en charge des droits sociaux économiques des citoyens congolais!
12/15/10: Statement on the Sixty-second anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The CDJP and RPDH call the government to link the positive growth of oil revenues and better management of socio-economic rights of Congolese citizens!
January 18, 2011: No One's Water
"People displaced due to Tucurui dam in Brazil have been left aside..."
02/23/11: Egyptian Uprising Fueled by Striking Workers Across Nation
An interview with Khaled Ali, a labor lawyer with the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights.
November 04, 2010 Human Rights Groups Urge the United States to Place Greater Focus on Achieving Freedom from Want
A group of U.S. and international human rights organizations today called on the U.S. government to put a greater focus on achieving freedom from want by implementing its obligation to protect, respect, and fulfill economic and social rights.
Event 11/19/10: The Human Rights Reshaping of International Regimes
EVENT 9/29/10: Girls and Women Ex-combatants: Lost Causes, Forgotten Subjects
The cases of Colombia, Sudan, Burma, the Philippines, and Angola
EVENT: 10/11/10 Corporate Accountability at the Crossroads
Event 10/11/10: Corporate Accountability at the Crossroads: Human Rights Tools and Tactics to Help Hold Businesses Accountable
We invite you to join us at a special public forum to highlight the importance of strengthening the voice and capacity of those whose human rights are affected by business, focusing particularly on the development and utilization of new documentation, advocacy tools, strategies and tactics.
2/4/2011 - URGENT APPEAL: Protect Human Rights Defenders in Egypt
Urgent news: Arrest of several human rights defenders from Egyptian Center for Housing Rights, the Hisham Mubarak Law Center, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, including Mr. Ahmed Seif, Ms. Nada Sadek, Mr. Mohamed El Taher, and Ms. Mona El Masry, Mr. Khaled Ali.
Online Dialogue: Corporate Accountability Beyond Borders: Exploring home states' efforts to protect against business-related human rights abuses
Join New Tactics and Niko Lusiani of ESCR-Net for an online dialogue on Corporate Accountability Beyond Borders: Exploring home states' efforts to protect against business-related human rights abuses from February 23 to March 1, 2011.
March 6, 2010: Center for Women's Global Leadership--20th Anniversary Symposium at Hunter University
20th Anniversary Symposium
Featuring prominent speakers from the global women's movement reflecting on body, economy and movement
March 6, 2010 (9:30 am - 5:30 pm)
Hunter College Assembly Hall (East 68th St. and Lexington Ave. New York, NY)
March 2010: Haiti NGO Letter on Human Rights and International Assistance
Support human rights in all international assistance to Haiti.
March 8, 2010: Indigenous Achuar Face Off Against Occidental Petroleum in Amazon Pollution Case
On March 3, 2010, EarthRights International (ERI) argued to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that the landmark environmental and public health case brought by indigenous Peruvian Achuar and the U.S. NGO Amazon Watch against Los Angeles-based oil giant Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), Maynas Carijano v. Occidental Petroleum, should be litigated in Los Angeles, where Oxy is headquartered.
March 11, 2010: Amnesty International Says DOS Country Reports Need to Be More Comprehensive
Amnesty International welcomes the Obama administration's first full contribution to assess the human rights performance of governments around the world, and in particular, the Country Reports' expanded coverage of press freedoms and discrimination against vulnerable groups. However, for a thorough assessment of global human rights, the Country Reports should be more comprehensive and include all rights, not only civil and political, but also economic, social and cultural rights.
March 24, 2010: Human rights responses to the global economic crisis
Read about several of this month's activities of ESCR-Net members and participants at the Human Rights Council towards making human rights real in times of global economic crisis.
March 27, 2010: ‘Resource-cursed' Liberia Struggles in Firestone's Stronghold
Earlier this month Liberian environmental justice lawyer Alfred Lahai Brownell led a briefing on Bridgestone/Firestone's continued violations of child rights and environmental destruction. As the leading lawyer on case the against Firestone, Brownell's research work with plantation workers influenced an Alien Tort Claims Act case filed against Firestone in the United States.
November 4, 2010: Panel Discussion - Corporate Accountability in the Obama Era
This public event aimed to raise awareness amongst government delegations and civil society about the U.S. piecemeal corporate accountability record in advance of its first-ever Universal Periodic Review. Those directly affected by business human rights abuses and NGO representatives discussed their concrete successes and substantial challenges struggling at great odds to influence U.S. legislative, regulatory, administrative and policy bodies to uphold the U.S. government's duties to respect, protect and remedy human rights against business-related abuses. WATCH THE NEW VIDEO!
1/20/11: SERAC Wins the 2010 MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions
The Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) has received the 2010 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions (MACEI) in recognition of the organization's consistent work in the advancement and protection of economic, social and cultural rights in Nigeria.
Press Release: 19 October 2009 - South African and International Human Rights Groups Granted Permission to Intervene in Foreign Mining Companies' Complaint Against South African Government
International Arbitration Tribunal agrees to accept human rights arguments and orders disclosure of key documents