TheOptionalProtocoltotheICESCR

UndertheProtocol,victimsofviolationsofeconomic,socialandculturalrights(ESCR),suchastheright
tofood,health,education,andhousing,whoareunabletoseekrelieffortheirclaimswithintheirown
country,canseekredressattheinternationallevelbyfilingacomplaintwiththeUnitedNationsCommittee
onEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights.
TheProtocolwasadoptedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNationson10December2008and
openedtoratificationon24September2009.
Currentlytheonlyinternationalmechanisminplacetomonitortheimplementationoftheserightisthe
procedureofstatereporting,whereineveryfiveyearsthestatemustsubmitareporttotheUNCommittee
onEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights.Whilecivilsocietyhastheopportunitytopresentalternative
informationtotheCommittee,theCommitteecurrentlydoesnothaveamandatetodealwithindividual
casesofrightsviolations.ThosestatesthatratifytheOptionalProtocolgranttheCommitteejustsucha
mandate,allowingittoassesswhetherastatehascompliedwithitshumanrightsobligationsinspecific
cases
TheOptionalProtocolprovidesforthreetypesofprocedures.
Duringtheratificationprocess,thestatemustindicatewhichoftheseproceduresitwilladhereto:
Individualcommunications:TheCommitteemayreceivecommunications(complaints)from
individualsorgroupsofindividuals(Art.1).Complaintsmayalsobefiledbyorganisationson
behalfofindividualsorgroupsofindividuals.Inexaminingthecommunications,theCommittee
mayassistthepartiesinreachinganamicablesettlement(Art.7).Ifnoamicablesettlementcanbe
reached,theCommitteesubmitsitsfindingsinrelationtothecomplainttotheinterestedparties,
accompaniedwhereappropriatebyitsrecommendations(Art.9).Thestatesmustrespondtothe
findings,andfollowupoftherecommendationsisassuredbytheCommittee(Art.9).
Interstatecommunications(Art.10):ThestatespartytothisProtocolmaydenounceviolations
byanotherstatepartyandrequestthat actionbetakentoputanendtoviolations.Asimilar
procedureexistsfortheOptionalProtocoltotheICCPR,butthestateshaveneverusedit.
Enquiry procedure (Art. 11): This procedure allows the ESCR Committee to initiate
investigationsifitreceivescredibleinformationindicatingthatastatepartytotheProtocolis
committingseriousorsystematicviolationsofanyoftheeconomic,socialandculturalrights
containedintheCovenant.
InwhatsituationscantheOPICESCRbeused?
If, for example, acompany enters intoan agreement withthegovernment toacquirea large
amount of land or to develop a monoculture, or a mining project at the expense of local
communities,andif,asaresult,thecommunitiesloseaccesstohousing,food,and/ortiestotheir
ancestral land without having been appropriately consulted and compensated, the state is in
violationofitsinternationalobligations,becauseithasnotrespectedorprotectedthefundamental
rightsofitscitizens.Victimsofsuchcircumstancesoftenhaveonlylimitedrecoursetotheir
national courts,ortheymight notreceiveadequatecompensationfortheirclaimsfromthose
courts as a result of pressure exerted by state authorities, or judges that decide in favour of
businessinterestsovertherightsofresidents.
After the OP comes into force, victims can file their complaints with the ESCR Committee.
However,inordertodoso,thestatemusthaveratifiedtheProtocol.Itisthereforeessentialthat
themaximumnumberofstatesratifythetreaty.TheCommitteewillthenassessthecaseandmake

recommendations.WhiletheCommitteeisnotaCourtandcanthereforenotorderstateaction,a
recommendationbytheCommitteecanstrengthenthepublicandlegalstruggleofthevictims.
WhyisuniversalratificationoftheOptionalProtocolsoimportant?
In addition to its value as a mechanism of redress for victims, the OPICESCR is a new
internationalreferencetoolthatwillallowadvancestobemadeineconomic,socialandcultural
rightsinseveralareas:
It will help to clarify the obligations of the states party to the ICESCR by the
developmentofinternationalcaselaw;
Itwillassistthepartystatesinthepracticalimplementationoftherightscontainedin
theICESCRbymakingrecommendationsthatcanbeappliedtoavarietyofcases;
It may motivate the states to strengthen their national monitoring and redress
mechanisms;
Itstrengthenstheuniversality,indivisibility,interrelatednessandinterdependenceofall
humanrights;
ItwillraisepublicandjudicialawarenessofESCR,
Itwillprovideindividualsandcivilsocietywithausefultoolfortheprotectionof
victimsofESCRviolations
http://www.fian.org/fileadmin/media/icons/2013_OP_ICESCR_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Mosteconomic,socialandculturalrightsarenotrecognisedorprotectedinthelawsofmanycountries,
includingIreland.Thismeansthatwhenarightofapersonisviolated,thereislittlehopeofcorrectingthe
problem,orstoppingitfromhappeningagain.
Theserightsshouldbeprotectedinthedomesticlawsofeachland.Inthissituationitisveryimportant
thatinternationalmechanismsandproceduresareinplacetomakesurethattherights,neglectedbyour
domesticlaws,areprotectedinsomeway.
In2008,anewprotocol,orobligation,tothetreatywasagreedbytheUN. Thisprotocolwouldallow
individualpeople,whofeltthattheirGovernmentwasnotdeliveringtheserights,toreporttheirsituation
andtheirGovernmenttotheUnitedNations.
TheOptionalProtocoltotheInternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRightswouldallow
individuals,andgroupstoseekjusticeforviolationsoftheireconomic,socialandculturalrights.
If a country, including Ireland were to adopt the Optional Protocol, it would strengthen the public
understandingoftheireconomic,socialandculturalrights.And,intheeventoftheserightsbeingabused,
itwouldalsogivethemacourseofactiontotake,torestoretheirrights,andpreventtheabusesfrom
happeningagain.
https://www.amnesty.ie/content/optionalprotocolicescr
WhatistheOPICESCR?

ItisasupplementaryagreementtotheInternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCultural
Rights(ICESCR)thatallowsindividualsandgroupstosendcommunicationsorcomplaintstothe
UnitedNations(UN)regardingviolationsoftherightsstipulatedinthistreaty.
WhataretherightsundertheICESCR?
Theentitlementsguaranteedinthispactincludetherightofeveryonetoanopportunitytohave
decentjobsandtoformandjointradeunions.Thisagreementfurthermandatesthatgovernments
ontheirownandincooperationwitheachothershouldworktowardstheachievement ofan
adequatestandardofliving,includinghousing,food,clothing,sanitationandwaterforall.ESC
rightsalsocontaintherightstosocialsecurity,includingsocialinsurance,thehighestattainable
standardofhealth,educationandtherighttotakepartinculturallifeandbenefitfromscientific
progress.
WhendidthePhilippinesratifytheICESCR?
Asearlyas1974,ourcountryhadaccededtotheICESCRandfreelyaccepteditsobligationsto
respect,protectandprogressivelyfulfilltheserightsoftheFilipinopeople.
WhyistheOPICESCRimportant?
ItprovidesaninternationalvenueforvictimsofESCrightsviolationstoseekredresswhenthey
have already exhausted available local remedies. The OPICESCR will also strengthen the
realizationofESCrightsgloballybecauseascasesofviolationsareprocessed,thiswillestablish
jurisprudenceandspecificnormsandstandardsthatwillfurtherclarifythescopeandcontentof
theserights.Lastly,itwillprovideUNandcivilsocietygroupsadditionalmechanismstomonitor
andengageStatePartiestowardsimprovingtheircompliancewiththeirobligationsunderthe
ICESCR.
WhyshouldthePhilippinegovernmentratifytheOPICESCR?
Contrarytowhatothersbelieve,theOPICESCRdoesnotimposeadditionalobligationstothe
governmentbecausethesehadbeenalreadyspelledoutintheICESCR.Itisalsonottruethatthe
OptionalProtocolcouldbeusedtodiscreditorputthecountryinabadlightbecausethereare
strict conditions before a complaint or communication from an individual or group could be
accepted by the UN, like the exhaustion of domestic remedies and presentation of factual
evidence.RatifyingtheOPICESCRwillfurthermanifestPresidentAquinoscommitmenttohis
SocialContractwiththeFilipinoPeople:thiswillsignifythathisadministrationrecognizesthat
food,educationhealth,housingandemploymentarenotmereneedsbutbasicrightsofourpeople.
This will demonstrate that the Aquino government is intent on urgently fulfilling these
entitlementsthroughpolicies,budgetaryallocationsandactualprograms.
WhatwillbetheimpactoftheOPICESCRonthelivesofordinaryFilipinos?
ItcanbeusedbypeoplesorganizationsandNGOstopushfortheenactmentoramendmentof
domesticpoliciestobetteraddresshunger,homelessness,povertyandotherESCRrelatedissues.
Thiscouldalsoprovideimpetusfortheestablishmentandstrengtheningofexistinglocalredress
mechanismsforviolationsoftheserights.SinceusingtheOPICESCRinvolvesmonitoringand
documentationofESCrightsontheground,thiscouldalsoassistinexposingandcombatinggraft
andcorruptionandfacilitateamoreefficientdeliveryofbasicsocialservices.
Finally,theOPICESCRwillgreatlyboostrecognitionandimplementationoftheserightsand
hastenthemainstreamingofrightsbasedapproach(RBA)togovernance,puttingatitscorethe
welfareanddignityoftheFilipinopeople.

Millions of Filipinos living in poverty remain deprived of their economic, social and cultural rights,
includingtherightstoadequatefood,work,decenthousing,healthandeducation.TheOptionalProtocolto
theInternationalCovenantonESCRights(OPICESCR)isanewinternationalmechanismthatwillenable
victimsofESCrightsviolationstoseekremedieswhensuchcannotbeobtainedatthedomesticlevel.
TheOPICESCRenteredintoforceonMay5,2013.ButthePhilippineshasyettoratifythisimportant
instrument.ItisthegoalofthememberorganizationsofthePhilippineNGOPONetworkonESCRightsto
havethisProtocolratifiedbythePhilippineSenate.
http://philrights.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/09/OPICESCRbrieferpressquality1.pdf

ChallengingMisconceptionsaroundtheOPICESCR
1.

Economic,socialandculturalrightsarenotcapableofbeingappliedbyjudicialbodies.
Theyarenotjusticiable
Inrecentyears,ajurisprudencesurroundingeconomic,socialandculturalrightshas
graduallyemerged.Domesticandregionalcourtshave,inmanyinstances,adjudicated
issuesrelatedtotheenjoymentofeconomic,socialandculturalrights,offeringan
adequateremedytothevictims.

2.

Acomplaintprocedureforeconomic,socialandculturalrightswouldimplyahugefinancial
burdenforStates
Thisargumentrelatestotheassumptionthateconomic,socialandculturalrightsonly
requireactionbygovernmentswithimportantfinancialimplications.Asmentionedin
GeneralCommentNo.12oftheCommittee,economic,socialandculturalrightsimpose
threedifferenttypesofobligationsonStates:theobligationstorespectprotectandfulfil
itdoesnotimplytheadoptionandimplementationofanexpensiveprogrammeor
measures.

3.

Acomplaintprocedureforeconomic,socialandculturalrightscreatesobligationsforStates
theOPICESCRdoesnotcreatenewobligationsforStatesbutanewsupervision
procedureforobligationsthatalreadyexistundertheICESCR.

4.

Acomplaintprocedureforeconomic,socialandculturalrightswouldcompeteorconflict
withothercomplaintprocedures
WithrespecttotheOPICESCR,concernshavebeenraisedthatsuchamechanism
duplicates,toacertainextent,theworkcarriedoutbyotherbodiessuchastheHuman
RightsCommittee,theCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationagainstWomen,
aswellastheInternationalLabourOrganisation(ILO)andtheUnitedNations
Educational,ScientificandCulturalOrganisation(UNESCO).
Potentialduplicationofworkbetweenthesedifferentmechanismshasnotcreated
problemsorraisedpotentialconcernsbecausealltheseprocedurescontainclauses
preventingtheexaminationofacasethatwouldbe,atthesametime,underconsideration
byanotherprocedureofinternationalorregionalsettlementorinvestigation.
Theinterdependence,indivisibilityandinterrelatednessofallhumanrights,reiteratedin
theViennaDeclarationandProgrammeofActionadoptedbytheSecondWorld
ConferenceonHumanRightsin1993requiresthatthesamestandardsbeappliedequally
toeconomic,socialandculturalrightsandcivilandpoliticalrights(Doc.

A/CONF.157/23).Inthisrespect,theOPICESCRfollowsthesameapproachasitscivil
andpoliticalrightspredecessorsconcerningthe'examinationclause',stipulatingthatan
individualcomplaintcannotbeexaminedconcurrentlybymorethanonemechanism.
https://www.escrnet.org/resources/section8challengingmisconceptionsaroundopicescr

OPICESCR would clarify the provisions of the ICESCR and lead to enactment of needed
legislation or amendment of existing laws to enhance our ESC rights performance and
address poverty, hunger, and illiteracy, among others.

The hesitation to sign and ratify a UN communication procedure is understandable because

of the belief that this can be used to discredit the government but this should not be seen
this way but from a constructive framework which end goal is to assist a state party
enhance its compliance with human rights standards. We already acceded to the First
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, also a
communication procedure on August 22, 1989 and yet we have not heard of a situation
where this was taken advantage of to put the Philippine government in bad light.
Lastly, for civil society, more than anything else the OPICESCR is an affirmation of ESC
rights as an equal of civil and political rights in terms of stature and accountability. It will
also pave the way for the establishment and strengthening of local redress mechanisms for
victims of forced evictions, land grabbing, denial of access to education, illegal extractive
activities like large-scale mining and other ESC rights abuses.
At the end of the day, the government has to ratify the OPICESCR because it has to respect
and protect the dignity of its people which we believe is at the core of President Aquinos
Social Contract.
http://www.agirpourlesdesc.org/english/esc-rights-on-the-ground/article/why-thephilippines-must-accept

A complaints mechanism has existed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights since it
came into force in 1976. The absence of a complaints mechanism for economic, social and cultural rights
represented a longstanding inequality between the two sets of rights in the UN system. Despite widespread
reluctance and skepticism at the outset of this process, the Coalition celebrated an historic success on
December 10, 2008 when the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus an Optional Protocol to the
ICESCR providing for a complaints mechanism, as well as an inquiries procedure.

Why, though, if the views of the adjudicating body are unenforceable, is this so
important? Having participated in a few of the debates in South Africa during the
constitution drafting process about the justiciability of ESC rights, which were not unlike
those surrounding the Optional Protocol at the UN, I was quite struck reading the
beginning of the first judgment of the South African Constitutional Court dealing with the
obligation to progressively realize the right to housing. After describing the plight of
Irene Grootboom and her family, moving from squatter settlement to squatter settlement,
and eventually living under plastic on the sports field of Wallacedene with the winter
rains arriving, Justice Jacoob wrote: The case brings home the harsh reality that the
Constitutions promise of dignity and equality for all remains for many a distant dream.
This is really what the debates about justiciability have been about - not, in the end, about
institutional capacity or judicial intrusions on legislative domain, but about whether Irene
Grootboom and others like her would, through a new adjudicative space, be able to bring
to life the link between ESC rights like the right to housing, and the promise of dignity
and equality at the core of all human rights. Adjudicating individual claims allows the
subjective voice of rights claimants to break through legal principles and breathe life and
meaning to human rights. Once the link between basic human rights values and
government decisions is brought to light, courts or tribunals seem to be able to find their
way through difficult questions of competing rights and institutional roles in the ESC
rights field, just as they have in the field of civil and political rights.