On 26-27 September 2002, the ICJ convened a roundtable of experts to discuss issue areas mandated to the Optional Protocol independent expert by the 58th session of the Commission on Human Rights, to report on during the Commission’s 59th session.
Pragmatic in focus, roundtable experts examined existing sources of information with regard to guidance that may be offered to both the independent expert and the ICESCR/Optional Protocol working group that will be established at the 59th session of the Commission.
In specific, available information was analysed on the following issues:
- States parties’ obligations under the ICESCR;
- The justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights with particular reference to the experience gained in recent years from the application of universal, regional and national human rights instruments and mechanisms; and
- The benefits and practicability of an ICESCR complaints mechanism and the complementarity between the proposed Optional Protocol and other complaints
mechanisms.
Expert Roundtable Optional Protocol ICESCR-seminar report-2003 (full text, PDF)