COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS OPENS TWENTY-FIFTH SESSION

CESCR
25th session
23 April 2001
Morning






Hears Opening Statement by Deputy High Commissioner
for Human Rights, Elects Officers



The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning started its spring session by hearing an opening statement by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In his statement, Bertrand G. Ramcharan, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights was a matter of decency, of principle and of strategy. At the same time, without democracy, the rule of law and the implementation of civil and political rights, it was hardly realistic to expect the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. Growth and property bloomed in conditions of respect for the rule of law and of civil and political rights. The implementation of all human rights should therefore proceed in tandem, he added.

The Committee was also addressed by representatives of Women's Economic Equality Project and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

At the start of its meeting, the Committee re-elected Virginia Bonoan-Dandan as Chairperson of the Committee. Paul Hunt was re-elected as Rapporteur. Three Vice-Chairpersons will be elected later in the week with due regard for equitable geographical representation.

Before adjourning its morning meeting, the Committee held a private meeting to discuss its organization of work.

When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will hear statements from non-governmental organizations concerning the reports by States parties which it will consider this session.


Statement by Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

BERTRAND G. RAMCHARAN, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that today, at the start of a new century, the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights was a matter of decency, of principle and of strategy. As a matter decency, special efforts should be taken to provide adequate food for every person on the planet. As a matter of principle, it was crucial that the plight of the poor be addressed nationally, regionally and internationally. It was worth mentioning in that context that none of the human rights treaties, not even the Declaration on the Right to Development, made explicit reference to "poverty" as a term. As a result, poverty had been too little defined in human rights terms except by reference to the right to an adequate standard of living. From the strategic standpoint also, the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights was fundamental. Human rights could not triumph universally in a world of growing poverty.

Mr. Ramcharan continued to say that without democracy, the rule of law and the implementation of civil and political rights, it was hardly realistic to expect the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. Growth and property bloomed in conditions of respect for the rule of law and of civil and political rights. The implementation of all human rights should therefore proceed in tandem.

Concerning the implementation of human rights treaties, historically, the international community had placed emphasis on the elaboration of norms, their legal acceptance nationally, dialogue and cooperation, reporting, petitions and complaints procedures, international cooperation, technical assistance, and activities of promotion and protection generally. Over the past half-century, the United Nations and its treaty bodies had faithfully tried these methods. However, an independent study which had been made available to all members of the treaty bodies had offered a variety of recommendations for improving the effectiveness of these bodies. It was important for the Committee to ponder carefully the results of these different reflections and to take such corrective steps as might be needed. Business as usual would not be enough in the future.


Statements

SHELAGH DAY, of Women's Economic Equality Project, said that her organization was a new human rights initiative currently being supported by three non-governmental organizations. It was aimed at improving understanding, recognition and implementation of women's right to equality, as a right that encompassed economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights, and to infuse the understanding of economic, social and cultural rights with a women's perspective.

The Committee could play a key role in the realization of women's equality and their social and economic rights. This was an important moment to raise the profile of women's social and economic rights, and to increase understanding of what constituted a violation of those rights. Despite fifty years of human rights commitments to women's equality, women of all ages, in all countries of the world, continued to experience gender inequality and violations of their economic, social and cultural rights within and outside the home. Economic inequality was a central fact of women's lives in every country, and a central manifestation of discrimination against women.


KISHORE SINGH, of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said that UNESCO's collaboration with the Committee was growing in recognition of their shared concerns and common objective for achieving the realization of the right to education. It was suggested that in recognition of common objectives of the Committee and UNESCO for promoting the realization of the right to education, a Working Group on the right to education could be established, which would report to both bodies.

An experts meeting on the Dakar follow-up global initiative, organized by UNESCO at its Headquarters from 28 February to 1 March 2001, had offered the opportunity of a dialogue for giving impetus to inter-agency cooperation. Furthermore, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the World Education Forum, an awareness-raising campaign was being launched so that the goals and objectives of the Dakar Framework for action on the right to education were better appreciated and shared at large.



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