UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to review Costa Rica, Cyprus, Poland, Tunisia, Lebanon, Dominican Republic, Philippines

GENEVA (14 September 2016) – The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is meeting in Geneva from 19 September to 7 October review the following countries: Costa Rica (19-20 Sep); Cyprus (20-21 Sep); Poland (21-22 Sep); Tunisia (22-23 Sep); Lebanon (26-27 Sep); Dominican Republic (27-28 Sep); Philippines (28-29 Sep).

The sessions will be webcast here: http://webtv.un.org/live/. The morning sessions run from 10:00-13:00 and the afternoon sessions from 15:00-18:00.

The above are among the 164 States* that have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and so are reviewed by the Committee on how they are implementing the Covenant. The Committee, which is composed of 18 independent human rights experts, will meet delegations from the respective States to examine a range of issues relating to the Covenant.

The meetings will take place in Room XVI at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The morning sessions are from 10:00 – 13:00 and the afternoon sessions from 15:00 – 18:00.  More information, including reports submitted by the States, civil society groups and national human rights institutions, can be found here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1060&Lang=en

The Committee will issue its findings on the respective States on 10 October and publish them at the above link.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Cécile Pouilly: 41 22 917 9310 / cpouilly@ohchr.org

Media accreditation for the Palais des Nations:
http://unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpPages)/70991F6887C73B2280256EE700379C58?OpenDocument

Background

Members of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. More information:  http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cescr/pages/cescrindex.aspx

*Check which countries have ratified the two Covenants and the other main international human rights treaties: http://indicators.ohchr.org/

50 years of the International Bill of Human Rights

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These treaties, together with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, form the International Bill of Rights. A campaign by the UN Human Rights Office, entitled “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always”,  is running throughout the year to promote and raise awareness of the two treaties, focussing on the timeless themes of rights and freedoms, in particular freedom from fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want. Check the campaign website at http://2covenants.ohchr.org.

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