GENEVA (17 February 2016) – The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is meeting in Geneva from 22 February to 4 March to review Namibia (23-24 Feb); Canada (24-25 Feb); Kenya (25-26 Feb).

The above are among the 164 States* that have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and so are reviewed by the Committee on how they are implementing the Covenant. The Committee, which is composed of 18 independent experts, will meet delegations from the respective States to examine a range of issues relating to the Covenant.

The meetings will be from 10:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 18:00 in Room XI, Palais des Nations. More information, including reports submitted by the States, civil society groups and national human rights institutions, can be found here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1012&Lang=en

The Committee will issue its findings on the respective States on 7 March 2016 and publish them at the above link.

Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always - #4Freedoms

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) are marking their 50th anniversary in 2016. The UN Human Rights Office is running a campaign, entitled “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always”,  throughout the year to promote and raise awareness of the two treaties. The campaign is focussing on the timeless themes of rights and freedoms, in particular freedom from fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want, and the work that continues to secure and ensure them. Check the campaign website at  http://2covenants.ohchr.org - link live from 22 February.

ENDS

For more information, please contact: Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9466 / +41 79 752 0488ethrossell@ohchr.org
Media accreditation for the Palais des Nations:   http://unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpPages)/70991F6887C73B2280256EE700379C58?OpenDocument
Background information:

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cescr

*Check which countries have ratified the two Covenants and the other main international human rights treaties: http://indicators.ohchr.org/

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