International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which includes its first and second Optional Protocols, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the ICESCR are all included in the International Bill of Human Rights.

What is International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)?

The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is a multilateral treaty that was ratified on 3 January 1976 and was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (GA) on 16 December 1966 through GA Resolution 2200A (XXI).

• It binds its parties to fight for the granting of economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) to non-self-governing and trust territories and persons, including labor rights, the right to health, the right to education, and the right to an appropriate standard of living.

• There are 171 parties to the Covenant as of July 2020. The Covenant has been signed by four other nations, including the US, although they have not yet ratified it.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which includes its first and second Optional Protocols, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the ICESCR are all included in the International Bill of Human Rights.

It makes sure that one can exercise one's economic, social, and cultural rights, including the rights to −

• Education

• Employment conditions that are just and fair

• A sufficient standard of living

• The best level of health possible

• Public assistance

Monitoring Mechanism

The monitoring organization tasked with checking on the ICESCR's implementation by its state parties is the UN's Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. The latter are expected to provide the Committee with periodic reports on the steps they have taken and the results of those steps in order to ensure respect for the rights protected by the ICESCR.

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs in Switzerland is in charge of overseeing the reporting procedure.

In 1996, Switzerland submitted its initial report. In 2008, the committee's second and third reports were filed jointly, and in November 2010, the committee released its recommendations. Switzerland delivered its fourth report orally in Geneva in October 2019 after submitting it in 2018. On October 18, 2019, the Committee decided to approve its suggestions for Switzerland.

Optional Protocol

The Optional Protocol, which came into effect in 2013, enables persons to file a complaint (communication) against any state that has ratified the Optional Protocol, alleging a violation of rights protected by the ICESCR.

The Optional Protocol has not yet been ratified by Switzerland.

Previous Work of ICESCR

ICESCR has taken the following prior steps as part of our ICESCR monitoring −

• A report on the development of socioeconomic rights in the United Kingdom (March 2018)

• Has revised contribution about ICESCR implementation in the UK (April 2016

• Its UK socioeconomic rights report to the UN Committee (August 2015)

• A series of instructional videos on YouTube produced in association with the University of Nottingham and written materials available online at the University of Nottingham website to promote socioeconomic rights

• A letter to the Justice Secretary urging the administration to carry out the UN's final recommendations. Sir Oliver Heald QC, a member of parliament, responded in January 2017.

Conclusion

The International Bill of Human Rights (IBHR) is made up of the ICESCR, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). There are presently 23 General Remarks that describe the ICESCR's provisions' scope and content.

State parties are required to provide reports to the Committee outlining their progress and the legislative, judicial, and policy steps they have taken to uphold their Convention responsibilities. Within two years after approving the convention, each state is required to submit a report. Thereafter, reports are due every five years, unless otherwise instructed by the Committee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who enforces ICESCR?

Ans. The international covenant on economic, social, and cultural rights is implemented by its State parties under the supervision of the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR), a group of 18 impartial experts.

Q2. What does ICESCR protect?

Ans. The States Parties to the current Covenant promise to ensure that the rights outlined in it would be exercised without any form of discrimination based on race, color, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.

Q3. What is the importance of the ICESCR?

Ans. The ICESCR aims to ensure the protection of economic, social and cultural rights including: Freedom from discrimination. Right to equality between men and women.

Q4. What does the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights do?

Ans. It ensures the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including the rights to: education. fair and just conditions of work. an adequate standard of living.

Q5. What is the International Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights?

Ans. The international covenant on economic, social, and cultural rights is implemented by its State parties under the supervision of the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR), a group of 18 impartial experts.