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COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS HOLDS DISCUSSION WITH ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
21 November 2003
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21.11.03
Members of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning held a discussion with the acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, on the organization of a workshop on follow-up procedures, mechanisms for the implementation of conclusions at the national level, and the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Committee Chairperson Virginia Bonoan-Dandan said the Committee had done all it could on the drafting of the optional protocol to the Covenant. With regard to the holding of a day of general discussion, she said representatives of the International Labour Office, trade unions and individual experts on the right to work would take part in the debate. The Committee had been working with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the issue of education and would continue to do so to treat the issue of education from the right-based perspective.
Ms. Bonoan-Dandan suggested that a workshop on the follow-up procedure should be organized in the Asian region where no such programme had been held in the past. The workshop would assist States parties in their implementation of the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations, as well as the provisions of the Covenant. She suggested that China, which had submitted its first report on the implementation of the Covenant, could be approached to organize the workshop.
She also said that the Office of the High Commissioner should continue its efforts in developing mechanisms for the implementation of the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations at the national level.
Other Committee Experts said the Committee had prepared a pre-drafting text concerning the optional protocol to the Covenant. The day of discussion to be held on Monday, 24 November, on the right to work would help the Committee to adopt a general comment on the right to work.
Reacting, Mr. Ramcharan said the Office would submit a paper to the drafting working group on the optional protocol reflecting the opinions of the Committee.
Mr. Ramcharan said the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to education had been emphasizing a right-based approach to education and the inclusion of court cases with regard to the right to education was also stressed. He also appreciated the Committee’s effort to work in close cooperation with UNESCO on the right to education.
Concerning the organization of a workshop on the follow-up procedure, Mr. Ramcharan said he supported the idea and would take immediate action to implement it. He would also consult the representatives of the State party in question if they could help organize the workshop. He would prepare a concept paper and would look for funds. If all went well, it would be preferable if the workshop took place during 2004.
On the draft voluntary guidelines on the right to food, Mr. Ramcharan said two Experts from the Committee could participate in the debate that would be held in Rome, which would be organized by the working group on the drafting of the right to food within the context of food security.
Mr. Ramcharan also said the Office was strengthening its cooperation with UN country teams in the effort to work on the practical implementation of treaty bodies’ concluding observations and recommendations at the national level. The teams could bring the recommendations directly to the concerned authority of the State party. The Office was also developing a national protection system jointly with UN county teams.
Earlier, the Committee continued adopting its draft report paragraph-by-paragraph, making modifications as required. The report will be submitted to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in accordance with ECOSOC resolution 1985/17. The document reflects the Committee’s work in its thirtieth and thirty-first sessions.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Monday, 24 November, it will hold a day of general discussion on the right to work, which is a right enshrined in article 6 of the Covenant.
Members of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning held a discussion with the acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, on the organization of a workshop on follow-up procedures, mechanisms for the implementation of conclusions at the national level, and the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Committee Chairperson Virginia Bonoan-Dandan said the Committee had done all it could on the drafting of the optional protocol to the Covenant. With regard to the holding of a day of general discussion, she said representatives of the International Labour Office, trade unions and individual experts on the right to work would take part in the debate. The Committee had been working with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the issue of education and would continue to do so to treat the issue of education from the right-based perspective.
Ms. Bonoan-Dandan suggested that a workshop on the follow-up procedure should be organized in the Asian region where no such programme had been held in the past. The workshop would assist States parties in their implementation of the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations, as well as the provisions of the Covenant. She suggested that China, which had submitted its first report on the implementation of the Covenant, could be approached to organize the workshop.
She also said that the Office of the High Commissioner should continue its efforts in developing mechanisms for the implementation of the Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations at the national level.
Other Committee Experts said the Committee had prepared a pre-drafting text concerning the optional protocol to the Covenant. The day of discussion to be held on Monday, 24 November, on the right to work would help the Committee to adopt a general comment on the right to work.
Reacting, Mr. Ramcharan said the Office would submit a paper to the drafting working group on the optional protocol reflecting the opinions of the Committee.
Mr. Ramcharan said the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to education had been emphasizing a right-based approach to education and the inclusion of court cases with regard to the right to education was also stressed. He also appreciated the Committee’s effort to work in close cooperation with UNESCO on the right to education.
Concerning the organization of a workshop on the follow-up procedure, Mr. Ramcharan said he supported the idea and would take immediate action to implement it. He would also consult the representatives of the State party in question if they could help organize the workshop. He would prepare a concept paper and would look for funds. If all went well, it would be preferable if the workshop took place during 2004.
On the draft voluntary guidelines on the right to food, Mr. Ramcharan said two Experts from the Committee could participate in the debate that would be held in Rome, which would be organized by the working group on the drafting of the right to food within the context of food security.
Mr. Ramcharan also said the Office was strengthening its cooperation with UN country teams in the effort to work on the practical implementation of treaty bodies’ concluding observations and recommendations at the national level. The teams could bring the recommendations directly to the concerned authority of the State party. The Office was also developing a national protection system jointly with UN county teams.
Earlier, the Committee continued adopting its draft report paragraph-by-paragraph, making modifications as required. The report will be submitted to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in accordance with ECOSOC resolution 1985/17. The document reflects the Committee’s work in its thirtieth and thirty-first sessions.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Monday, 24 November, it will hold a day of general discussion on the right to work, which is a right enshrined in article 6 of the Covenant.