The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) oversees the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its Optional Protocol. The text of the Covenant was adopted by A/RES/2200A (XXI); the text of the Optional Protocol was adopted by A/RES/63/117.
- CESCR website
- Established by Economic and Social Council resolution 1985/17 of 28 May 1985, to supervise the implementation of the Covenant and functions like a treaty body
- Meets in two sessions each year in Geneva
- First session held in 1987
Main types of documents considered or issued by the Committee
The main types of matters considered by the Committee: State party reports and general comments on thematic matters related to the Covenant. The Committee also devotes one day of each session to general discussion. In addition, in accordance with the Optional Protocol, the Committee has the authority to review and consider communications from individuals and communications from State Parties regarding other State Parties.
- State parties reports
- Economic and Social Council resolution 1988/4 of 24 May 1988 establishes the pattern for State parties reports
- Initial report is submitted within two years of the Covenant’s entry into force for the State party concerned
- Subsequent periodic reports should be submitted every five years
- Committee discusses the State's report and issues concluding observations and comments
- General comments
- Provide the Committee's interpretation of the content of human rights provisions on thematic issues
- Issued as individual documents and included in sessional report
- General discussions
- General discussions focus on a particular right or a particular aspect of the Covenant
- Meeting records may be issued
- Meeting summary and outcome may be provided in the sessional report
Document symbol patterns
- Working document series symbol
- E/C.12/-
- example: E/C.12/2010/1
- Documents related to State party reports include a country abbreviation in the symbol
- Summary meeting record series symbol
- Sessional reports
- Press Releases
Available translations: