Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concludes Seventy-Eighth Session after Adopting Concluding Observations on Reports of Chile, Colombia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Netherlands, Russian Federation and Zimbabwe
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon concluded its seventy-eighth session after adopting concluding observations on the reports of Chile, Colombia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Netherlands, Russian Federation and Zimbabwe under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The concluding observations will be transmitted to the States concerned and made available on the webpage of the session on the afternoon of Monday, 29 September 2025.
Preeti Saran, Committee Chair, said during the three intense weeks, the Committee had engaged with six States parties, considered two follow-up reports, and adopted seven list of issues. The Committee also conducted work on communications under the Optional Protocol, adopted one general comment, and discussed a variety of other matters. The Committee had also welcomed a new member, Ms. Peijie Chen. The review of Australia had been postponed until the Committee’s seventy-ninth session.
The Committee discussed and adopted the assessments on the follow-up reports of El Salvador and Luxembourg, which would be transmitted to the State Parties concerned and made publicly available in the coming weeks. States Parties with due or overdue follow-up reports were urged to submit them for consideration by the Committee.
At the session, the Committee adopted seven lists of issues, on Eswatini, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova and Tunisia. Under the Optional Protocol, the Committee adopted decisions regarding 18 individual communications, finding violations of the Covenant in two cases concerning Argentina and Spain, and finding a third case against Spain inadmissible. The Committee discontinued 15 individual communications concerning Italy, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay. All cases examined concerned the right to housing.
The Committee adopted the General Comment on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Environmental Dimension of Sustainable Development, which it hoped would encourage the implementation of sustainable development policies that protected the environment and the climate, by States parties. Ms. Saran thanked all those involved for their work. The Committee decided that the next general comment that it would elaborate on would be a general comment on armed conflict.
During the session, the Committee also held informal meetings with other stakeholders, including civil society. The engagement of all concerned was appreciated.
At its seventy-ninth session, starting 9 February 2026, the Committee would review the reports of Australia, Austria, Georgia, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, and Uruguay. It would adopt lists of issues on Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Slovakia and Zambia. The Committee would also consider, and adopt assessments, on the follow-up reports of Lithuania and Tajikistan.
Ms. Saran highlighted that 21 States parties, had not yet submitted their initial reports, of which 14 were overdue for more than 10 years. Furthermore, a total, 50 periodic reports remained overdue, some for over 10 years. Ms. Saran recalled that the capacity building program, established pursuant to UNGA Resolution 68/268 (2014), was available to offer support to States in technical assistance. All States were invited to ratify the Covenant, and those who were parties to the Covenant but had not ratified the Optional Protocol were encouraged to do so, as well as to enter the declarations for articles 10 and 11 of the Optional Protocol.
In closing, Ms. Saran thanked the Committee and all who had contributed to the busy session. At its next session, the Committee looked forward to holding constructive dialogues with States Parties, pursuing other work, and engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders with the aim of achieving the effective promotion and protection of all the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
At its seventy-ninth session, to be held from 9 February to 6 March 2026, the Committee will review the reports of Australia, Austria, Georgia, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, and Uruguay.
___________
Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CESCR25.012E