COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS BEGINS TWENTY-NINTH SESSION

CESCR
29th session
11 November 2002
Morning



Hears Statement by Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights



The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights opened this morning its twenty-ninth session, adopting an agenda and programme of work and hearing an address by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Committee monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which entered into force in 1976. The treaty so far has been ratified by 145 States. The Committee is composed of 18 independent Experts of different nationalities.
In his opening statement, Bertrand Ramcharan, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed the Committee on events that had taken place since its last meeting. He said more emphasis was being exerted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on capacity-building efforts and on enhancing national protections for economic, social and cultural rights.
Committee Chairperson Virginia Bonoan-Dandan said more stress should be placed on universal ratification of the International Covenant and on building such national capacities for advancing economic, social and cultural rights.
Before starting its work, the Committee noted its sadness at hearing of the recent death of Valeri Kouznetsov of the Russian Federation, who had served the Committee as an Expert for a long period. The members of the Committee, after observing a moment's silence, paid tribute and conveyed their condolences to Mr. Kouznetsov's family.
Also this morning, the Committee, under its agenda item on relations with United Nations organs and other treaty bodies, heard statements from representatives of World Bank, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Environmental and Human Settlements Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will hear statements from representatives of non-governmental organizations under its agenda item on substantive issues arising from the implementation of the International Covenant.

Statement of Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
BERTRAND RAMCHARAN, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, recalled that last year's meeting of Chairpersons of human rights treaty bodies had decided to hold a meeting consisting of the Chairperson and two other members of each Committee to discuss matters of common interest and concern. It had also decided upon the important and topical issue of methods of work relating to the State reporting process. In addition, the first inter-Committee meeting exchanged views on various aspects of the reporting procedure. The meeting had identified a number of points of agreement and adopted corresponding recommendations that were to be considered by the different committees.
Mr. Ramcharan said the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) had recently established an inter-governmental working group for the elaboration of a set of voluntary guidelines to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights would be cooperating with FAO on that initiative.
The Deputy High Commissioner also said more emphasis was being exerted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on capacity-building efforts and on enhancing national protections for economic, social and cultural rights in order to promote a better life for all.

Other Statements
ALFREDO SFEIR-YOUNIS, Special Representative to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for the World Bank, said all questions related to human rights had a material expression and, within it, an economic component or dimension. It was impossible to think about the implementation of any human right without addressing the complex and fundamental processes of wealth creation. The emphasis the Committee gave to economic rights was of fundamental importance. However, the capacity to attain significant results would, in the end, require a lot of research and study, and a very rigorous way to address the key determinants of the development agenda, which was not an easy task.
KISHORE SINGH, Programme Specialist of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said that in the field of human rights, UNESCO was currently elaborating an overall strategy in response to the United Nations Secretary-General's reform programme. The strategy was aimed at strengthening UNESCO's contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. It would seek to ensure that UNESCO contributed effectively to the UN's agenda for the twenty-first century. Particular attention would be given in the strategy to economic, social and cultural rights, in view of their frequent neglect and UNESCO's active involvement in the fight against poverty and in particular against extreme poverty.
SYLTA PAYSEN, Deputy Director of the Environmental and Human Settlements Divisions of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), said the ECE recognized the importance of human settlements for socially, economically and environmentally sound development. That recognition was also increasingly taking place in the countries of the ECE region as they became more and more aware that the complex problems associated with urban development were having a serious impact on the economic, social and environmental spheres. There was a definite need to provide decent housing and social protection, in particular to needy households.



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