The time has come to ensure that people denied their economic, social and cultural rights, in particular those living in poverty, are able to access justice.
Only thirty-three states have signed and two states have ratified the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
On 21-22 June 2010, the ICJ in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights organized an Expert Consultation on a proposed Optional Protocol to establish a communication procedure to allow for children who are victims of human rights violations to seek a remedy before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Participants in the meeting included the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Open-Ended Working Group on an Optional Protocol. The UN Open-Ended Working Group on an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child will next meet in December 2010 to discuss a draft text presently being prepared by the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Open-Ended Working Group, Mr. Drahoslav Stefane.
Switzerland-expert consultation CRC-agenda-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Treaty-bodies have a special role in monitoring State compliance with human rights treaty obligations and providing guidance to States Parties on how to fulfil those obligations. The workshop afforded an occasion for in-depth examination and interaction between the committees on the impact that activities of transnational corporations have in the implementation of treaty obligations, providing a comparative and informed perspective on approaching these issues and encouraging coordinated action.
Switzerland-workshop transnational corporations-agenda-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
The ICJ expressed concern at the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka and welcomed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ emphasis on countering discrimination, including on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The ICJ also called on the Council to consider establishing a dedicated mandate – such as the Early-warning Commission – to identify the emergence of human rights violations in crisis situations and make recommendations to the UN to prevent human rights violations and ensure accountability of their perpetrators.
SriLanka-humanrightsviolations-web story-2010 (full text, PDF)
Tunisia: Quash sham conviction and sentence of judges’ association President, Anas Hmedi
The UN Human Rights Council makes significant but limited progress in addressing human rights around the world, as atrocities multiply in the Middle East and elsewhere
ICJ hosts an African Regional Convening in Kenya on Transformative Equality Jurisprudence
Russian Federation: Arbitrarily detained human rights lawyer Maria Bontsler must be released