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

GENEVA (18 February 2016) – The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is due to review Namibia’s record  for the first time on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 February.

Namibia 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 Namibian delegation to discuss a range of issues relating to the implementation of the Covenant at the following times:   
23 February from 10:00 – 13:00 and 15:00 (11:00 – 14:00 and 16:00 -19:00 in Windhoek);
24 February from 10:00 – 13:00 (11:00-14.00)  
Venue: Conference Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva

More information, including Namibia’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 Namibia and the other States being reviewed – Canada 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  - link live from 22 February.

ENDS

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

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