COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS OPENS THIRTY-NINTH SESSION
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning opened its thirty-ninth session, during which it will examine measures taken by Costa Rica, Ukraine, San Marino, Belgium and Paraguay to comply with the standards of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It will also continue its consideration of a draft general comment on article 9 of the Covenant, concerning the right to social security.
Ibrahim Salama, Chief of the Treaties and Council Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in an introductory statement, said the Committee was one of the key pillars of the UN human rights system: its monitoring of the implementation of the Covenant, particularly its concluding observations on the status of economic, social and cultural rights in States parties and the general comments, provided guidance to the international community in its quest for a more effective protection and promotion of human rights. The Committee’s continued active role in enhancing the entire human rights treaty body system was of crucial importance.
During the meeting, the Committee briefly discussed methods of work and ways of involving national human rights institutions in its work. It then adopted its agenda and programme of work.
This afternoon at 3 p.m., the Committee will discuss its relations with United Nations organs and other treaty bodies, and hear information from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with respect to the reports that it will review during the current session.
Statement
IBRAHIM SALAMA, Chief of the Treaties and Council Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the Committee was one of the key pillars of the UN human rights system: its monitoring of the implementation of the Covenant, particularly its concluding observations on the status of economic, social and cultural rights in States parties and the general comments, provided guidance to the international community in its quest for a more effective protection and promotion of human rights. Since the Committee’s last session, the Human Rights Council had held the first part of its sixth session, and continued its important institution-building task. Much progress had been made in this regard; the treaty bodies had taken note, and, in this context, the Human Rights Committee had designated two of its members to present, at a future session, recommendations concerning the institutionalisation of its relationship with the Council, and the development of procedures and guidelines for enhanced cooperation with Special Procedures mandate-holders.
In the past few months since the thirty-eighth session, considerable advances had been seen in the field of economic, social and cultural rights. The one initiative that would most directly affect the Committee was, of course, Mr. Salama said, the elaboration of an optional protocol to the Covenant. Thus far, there had not emerged any substantive objections to the question of whether an optional protocol was necessary, and there seemed to be broad support for it, although different positions had been expressed regarding certain proposals contained in the draft. During the second half of its sixth session, in December 2007, the Council would address the question of the proposed rectification of the status of the Committee. The dynamism of the Committee in fulfilling its mandate was most noteworthy. A number of partners of the Committee, including NGOs and United Nations agencies, were eagerly awaiting the issuance of General Comments on the right to social security and on non-discrimination.
The Committee’s continued active role in enhancing the entire human rights treaty body system was of crucial importance, Mr. Salama said. However, challenges persisted in making the treaty body system more visible and accessible. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights would continue its work to enhance awareness and understanding of the treaty body system, as well as to facilitate the implementation of treaty body recommendations at the national level. Intensive efforts continued to be made towards reinforcing the impact of the Committee’s invaluable work, and towards meeting the expectations of rights holders and improving the protection of human rights at the national level. The Committee faced a heavy agenda at this session, and, looking ahead to the future, it would certainly continue to face a heavy workload. The establishment of the Universal Periodic Review would likely result in an increased number of reports in the not-too-distant future. The Committee’s efforts to continually improve its working methods were therefore most welcomed.
For use of the information media; not an official record
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