PHM-Exch> Optional Protocol to the ICESC Rights Ratification Campaign

[Claudio Schuftan]

  ADJUDICATION OF ESCR   Optional Protocol to the ICESCR Ratification
Campaign





  Millions of people around the world suffer violations of their economic,
social and cultural rights (ESCR), including abuses of the rights to
adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, health, work and education. Many
of them find no mechanisms within their countries to address these
violations, and up to now there was no procedure at the international level
to seek justice for these violations. However, once in force, the Optional
Protocol will enable victims of violations of the rights protected in the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, who are
unable to find remedies within their own countries, to seek justice within
the United Nations.

The International NGO Coalition for the Optional Protocol to the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR or
Optional Protocol), coordinated by ESCR-Net, brings together hundreds of
individuals and organizations from around the world who share the common
goal of promoting the ratification and implementation of the Optional
Protocol. The NGO Coalition led civil society efforts towards the adoption
of the Optional Protocol and now focuses on the ratification and
implementation of this Treaty.

Victims of violations of ESCR can only utilize the procedure after their
State has ratified the Optional Protocol and a total of ten ratifications
has been reached. States will only ratify the Optional Protocol if civil
society groups tell them how important it is to do so, so we need your help!
*GET INVOLVED!*

Join the campaign and Get
involved!<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/f24bb3c32ffa8f10200d5711fe77a04f?pa=3389460844>

For more information on the Ratification Campaign, contact Suad Elias at
op-coalition at escr-net.org. To join the Coalition, simply fill out the
Membership
Form<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/ee40debadeb8b96c8f298188bd2b0bb9?pa=3389460844>
 and return it to the email address above. For further information on the
Coalition visit:
www.escr-net.org<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/3da7f0ba1747da68bae69d99cd14bf96?pa=3389460844>
.
■ Update on Ratifications: Spain Becomes the 3rd Country to Ratify the
OP-ICESCR. 7 More To Go!

Honoring its commitment to international human rights obligations and
realization of economic, social and cultural rights, *Spain* ratified the
OP-ICESCR on September 23, 2010. *Ecuador*became the first State to ratify
it in June, 2010 and *Mongolia*, shortly after.

The Optional Protocol was opened for signature and ratification on 24
September 2009 during the 2009 Treaty Event at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York. Besides these 3 ratifications the Protocol is
signed so far by 32 other countries (signature is a legal step prior to
ratification): Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Chile, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador,
Finland, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Kazakhstan,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Montenegro, Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal,
Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Togo, Ukraine and
Uruguay.
■ Toolkit for Action for the OP-ICESCR

The NGO Coalition is glad to announce the launch of its Toolkit for Action
for the Optional Protocol. The Toolkit aims to facilitate international and
national advocacy work for the ratification of the OP-ICESCR and the
national implementation of ESCR. The objective of this Toolkit is to provide
human rights advocates with the relevant information, strategies and tools
for undertaking national level efforts toward the ratification and
implementation of the OP-ICESCR in their country.

The Toolkit includes Four Booklets which are available
here<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/21554ec8e6731a05248b30622687b8f8?pa=3389460844>
.

*Booklet 1:* Refreshing Your Knowledge about the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
*Booklet 2:* Overview: The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
*Booklet 3:* Why Should States Ratify the Optional Protocol to the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?
*Booklet 4:* Tools to Lobby Your Country and Advocate for the Ratification
and Implementation of the Optional Protocol.

The booklets are currently available in
English<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/6313b2fe10ee727e1a3d4c160f5c94e9?pa=3389460844>
 and French<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/e2c0ad8b0e99d232b04eef5a97dd2d72?pa=3389460844>
 and will be soon available in Spanish and Arabic.

To join the Coalition email list please send an E-mail to:
op-coalition at escr-net.org
■ 10 For Access To Justice For All Human
Rights<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/33b337f4c67272b2d4027f71de05337f?pa=3389460844>

On September 2010, the NGO Coalition launched a statement calling on States
to seize on the opportunity offered by the first anniversary of the Optional
Protocol's opening for signature, ratification and accession and the MDG-10
year review by becoming party to this treaty to ensure at least 10
ratifications or accessions by December 10, 2010. On December, 2010, we
reiterated our call, asking States to ensure that the second anniversary of
the adoption of the Optional Protocol by the UN General Assembly in December
10, 2008, was marked with a historic moment for human rights in the world:
the entry into force of a mechanism that will reunify the vision of human
rights as including economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights,
all in equal status. The NGO Coalition for an Optional Protocol prepared
model letters and press releases to facilitate actions by interested
organizations. You can see the statement and
lettershere<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/67a12ecfa5838ba83c2202068b07f31a?pa=3389460844>
.

We thank all the organizations who took action on during the dates, and we
thank those who continue working in support of the OP-ICESCR.
■ Advocacy on the Rules of Procedure for the OP-ICESCR

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is in the
process of adopting Rules of Procedure for the OP-ICESCR. A number of key
issues that will be influential in determining the effectiveness and
competence of the ESCR Committee's consideration of communications under the
OP-ICESCR will be addressed in these Rules of Procedure. Currently, the
CESCR is still in the process of revising and discussing the draft rules and
had their last discussion on November 12 during the 45th session in Geneva.
The NGO Coalition organized an event during the prior Committee Sessions in
May 2010 and advanced some key issues for the rules in conversations with
Committee Members through members participating in the November sessions.

The NGO Coalition for the OP-ICESCR drafted a commentary on the draft Rules
of Procedure aimed at influencing the development process and continues
looking at manners in which to positively influence this process. This
commentary is available
here<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/7d77b4c0cbad8d49ff3c8364ce229730?pa=3389460844>

For a summary of the document in Spanish click
here<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/eb086127c3b9a28879d5882e18448333?pa=3389460844>
.

For more information on the NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR and ESCR-Net's
work in this area, please contact Suad Elias at op-coalition at escr-net.org.
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