UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to review Canada

GENEVA (18 February 2016) – The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is due to review Canada‘s record on Wednesday 24 February and Thursday 25 February.

Canada is one of the 164 States* that have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and so is required to report to the  Committee, which is composed of 18 independent experts. Committee members will meet the Canadian delegation to discuss a range of issues relating to the implementation of the Covenant at the following times:   
24 February from 15:00 – 18:00 (09:00-12:00 in Ottawa);
25 February from 10:00 – 13:00 (04:00 – 07:00)  
Venue: Conference Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva

More information, including Canada’s report and information submitted by civil society groups, can be found here:  http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1012&Lang=en
The Committee will issue its findings on Canada and the other States being reviewed – Namibia and Kenya - on 7 March and publish them at the above link.

Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always - #4Freedoms

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) are marking their 50th anniversary in 2016. The UN Human Rights Office is running a campaign, entitled “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always”,  throughout the year to promote and raise awareness of the two treaties. The campaign is focussing on the timeless themes of rights and freedoms, in particular freedom from fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want, and the work that continues to secure and ensure them. Check the campaign website at  http://2covenants.ohchr.org - the link will go live on 22 February.

ENDS

For more information, please contact: Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9466 / +41 79 752 0488 ethrossell@ohchr.org

Media accreditation for the Palais des Nations:   http://unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpPages)/70991F6887C73B2280256EE700379C58?OpenDocument
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: 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/

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