Dag Hammarskjöld Library at Uppsala University
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, encompasses civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The declaration is not legally binding, but it serves as a common standard of achievement for all people and all nations.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted in 1966, expanded the rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and, as a convention, it carries the force of international law. It stages all peoples' right of self-determination and disposal of their natural wealth and resources, the right to work, social security and education, health and adequate standard
of living and participation in cultural life.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, CESCR monitors implementation of the Convention by the State Parties.
The Commission on Human Rights has established Special Rapporteurs to examine, monitor and report on economic, social and cultural rights worldwide. This mechanism has now been assumed by the Human Rights Council.
Documentation
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The documents from the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights carry the following symbols:
E/C.12/- | Economic and Social Council. Committee no 12 = Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights |
Ex. E/C.12/2002/11 | Economic and Social Council. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Year 2002. Document no 11. |
The State Parties to the Convention submit periodic reports for consideration by the Committee. These Country reports are posted online in the Treaty Body Database at the UN official web site, section Human Rights. Reports in print can are included in the UN Collection of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, Uppsala, and in the libraries at UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva.
The Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights can be retrieved from the Treaty Body Database.
The official web site of Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, posted at the UN official web site, provides background information and news, conventions and protocols, lists of signatures and ratifications, reporting guidelines, full text documents and reports and a link to Treaty Body Database.
Documentation from the Special Rapporteurs can be accessed from the official web site of the Human Rights Council, section Special procedures, Thematic mandates, Special Procedures assumed by the Human Rights Council.
Yearbook of the United Nations provides an overview of the United Nations work relevant to economic and social rights. A complete collection of yearbooks is held by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, Uppsala, and the Libraries at UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva. Since October 2008 the complete full text collection of The United Nations Yearbooks is available online at http://unyearbook.un.org/.
Databases and Indexes
The reports of the Special Rapporteurs to the Human Rights Council can be accessed through the Charter Body database at the UN official web site, section Human Rights.
The UN Library online catalogue UNBISnet contains reports, documents and articles related to UN activities with links to full texts for recent years. Subject search can be performed using relevant terms from the UNBIS THESAURUS.
Full text documents related to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights can be retrieved from the Treaty Body Database, at the UN official web site, section Human Rights.