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International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was one of the first instruments designed to protect human rights around the world. The ICESCR contains some of the most significant international legal provisions establishing economic, social and cultural rights. These include the right: to work in just and favourable conditions; to social protection; to an adequate standard of living; to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health; to education; and, to enjoyment of the benefits of cultural freedom and scientific progress.

The United Nations General Assembly, in 1950, declared that "... the enjoyment of civil and political freedoms and of economic, social and cultural rights are interconnected and interdependent" (Resolution 421 (V), Sect. E). The ICESCR, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights constitute the International Bill of Human Rights. This combined bill outlines the basic rights all people share and serves as the foundation for all other United Nations human rights legislation.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has produced a series of fact sheets regarding various international human rights instruments and bodies. Fact Sheet No.2 (Rev.1), The International Bill of Human Rights provides more detailed information about the International Bill of Human Rights, including background on the Declaration and the Covenants, as well as the worldwide influence of the Bill.

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Each international human rights covenant or convention requires States Parties to submit periodic reports on the State's progress on implementing its provisions. For each covenant or convention, a UN committee has been given authority to monitor progress by reviewing states' reports.

Compliance by States Parties with their obligations under the ICESCR and the level of implementation of the rights and duties in question is monitored by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Committee meets in annual sessions in Geneva.

Based on its review, the Committee will offer concluding observations to a State Party's report. These observations will include recommendations for further implementation of the ICESCR.

Canada and the ICESCR

Canada acceded to the ICESCR on May 19, 1976. Since acceding to the ICESCR, Canada has submitted four periodic reports. The Third Report was submitted on May 27, 1997, and was reviewed from November 26 - 27, 1998. The Committee adopted its concluding observations on December 4, 1998 .

Canada recently submitted, in October 2004, its Fourth Report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to the UN. The Fourth Report covers the period from October 1994 to September 1999. It is available at: http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/pdp-hrp/docs/cesc_e.cfm It is expected that Canada will be asked to appear before the Committee to review this report in 2006.