u.n. discusses crucial step on economic, social and cultural rights...

the u.n. general assembly will this month discuss taking a crucial step to secure access to justice for everyone whose economic, social and cultural rights are violated and who is denied a remedy at the national level...

in the coming weeks, u.n. member states convening in new york at the general assembly session will consider the adoption of an international instrument – the optional protocol to the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights (optional protocol)...once in force, this instrument will provide access to justice for victims of violations of economic, social and cultural rights who cannot get a remedy at the national level...

the peeps over at amnesty international has said that, sixty years after the adoption of the universal declaration of human rights (udhr), in which the international community recognized that everyone, everywhere has civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, this step is long-overdue...said duncan wilson, amnesty international’s senior policy expert on economic, social and cultural rights:

"This is clear and concrete action to implement the declaration made fifteen years ago at the Vienna World Conference that 'all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated. The international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing, and with the same emphasis. Amnesty International emphasizes the importance of using this historic moment to rectify the imbalance between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights, which has particularly denied marginalized groups and those living in poverty the ability to demand an effective remedy when their rights are violated. Many of those who have suffered violations of their rights, including rights to adequate housing, food, water and sanitation, health, education and decent work, are denied the ability and power to hold those responsible to account."

amnesty international has called on all members of the u.n. to celebrate 60th anniversary of the udhr with the adoption of the optional protocol, in its current form, by the general assembly on the 10th of december 2008...

the elaboration and adoption of the optional protocol is the culmination of five years of negations by an intergovernmental working group...the final agreed text is a compromise and has the support of an overwhelming number of u.n. member states...

amnesty international is a member of the international ngo (non-governmental organization) coalition for an optional protocol to the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights...

peace out <3