(Curtain Raiser)
24 National Human Rights Institutions to deliberate on effective delivery of
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at Delhi Round Table Meet
New Delhi, 28 November 2005
Commissioners, Members, senior officers and delegates from the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of 24 countries will deliberate exchange views and experiences in order to improve the delivery of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) at the International Round Table Meeting on National Human Rights Institutions and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which gets off to a start in New Delhi on 29 November 2005. Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson, NHRC and Mr. Orest Nowosad, Coordinator, National Institutions Unit, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will deliver the opening remarks.
The 3-day event, which is being co-hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of India and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will see the participation from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Moroco, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Afganistan, Fiji, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Albania, Kyrgyz, Ireland, Jordan and India. There will be representatives from the OHCHR and UNESCO as well.
The Round Table meet will consist of nine sessions spread over three days and will cover the topics 'General principles of ESCR - State obligations to promote, protect and fulfil; Key international instruments on ESCR and the Optional Protocol of Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; General Principles of ESCR-roles and responsibilities of National Institutions (NIs); Implementing ESCR rights-modes and modalities: Advocacy and other means; Justiciability of ESCR and Legal Protection; New challenges and dimensions to ESCR; A Plan of Action for NIs regarding ESCR and Wrap-up and adoption of conclusions'.
The International Round Table being held at New Delhi aims to strengthen the capacity of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights to implement the realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR). It hopes to familiarize NHRIs with ESCR, provide a forum for exchanging information among participants and enhance the understanding and regional approaches to ESCR for the purpose of individually and collectively reinforcing their efforts in their promotion and protection. It will further develop tools and methods with which NHRIs can promote and protect ESCR within their mandates in their respective countries. Addressing and exchange of best practices and experiences of ESCR in various countries will be the basis upon which such strategies can be developed.
This Round Table is a follow-up to workshops held in the Philippines and Fiji, respectively, in 2000 and in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China in 2001. [It will have a central role in the continuous focus of developing the capacity of NHRIs to promote and protect ESCR].
New tools will be developed drawing upon the experiences and knowledge of participant NHRIs and relevant institutions in the regions, which will be shared at the Round Table.
The Round Table will
· review the general concepts of ESCR,
· explore state obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil ESCR,
· examine international and regional mechanisms available for the promotion and protection of ESCR,
· explore the "new dimension" of ESCR due to the changing political, economic and social environments in the world since the adoption of the Covenant,
· examine the role of NHRIs in the promotion and protection of such rights,
· develop practical strategies for NHRIs to employ in the promotion and protection of ESCR, and
· strengthen cooperation and mutually reinforcing relationships on ESCR among NHRIs at the international and regional levels.
Commissioners, Members, senior officers and delegates from the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of 24 countries will deliberate exchange views and experiences in order to improve the delivery of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) at the International Round Table Meeting on National Human Rights Institutions and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which gets off to a start in New Delhi on 29 November 2005. Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson, NHRC and Mr. Orest Nowosad, Coordinator, National Institutions Unit, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will deliver the opening remarks.
The 3-day event, which is being co-hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of India and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will see the participation from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Moroco, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Afganistan, Fiji, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Albania, Kyrgyz, Ireland, Jordan and India. There will be representatives from the OHCHR and UNESCO as well.
The Round Table meet will consist of nine sessions spread over three days and will cover the topics 'General principles of ESCR - State obligations to promote, protect and fulfil; Key international instruments on ESCR and the Optional Protocol of Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; General Principles of ESCR-roles and responsibilities of National Institutions (NIs); Implementing ESCR rights-modes and modalities: Advocacy and other means; Justiciability of ESCR and Legal Protection; New challenges and dimensions to ESCR; A Plan of Action for NIs regarding ESCR and Wrap-up and adoption of conclusions'.
The International Round Table being held at New Delhi aims to strengthen the capacity of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights to implement the realization of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR). It hopes to familiarize NHRIs with ESCR, provide a forum for exchanging information among participants and enhance the understanding and regional approaches to ESCR for the purpose of individually and collectively reinforcing their efforts in their promotion and protection. It will further develop tools and methods with which NHRIs can promote and protect ESCR within their mandates in their respective countries. Addressing and exchange of best practices and experiences of ESCR in various countries will be the basis upon which such strategies can be developed.
This Round Table is a follow-up to workshops held in the Philippines and Fiji, respectively, in 2000 and in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China in 2001. [It will have a central role in the continuous focus of developing the capacity of NHRIs to promote and protect ESCR].
New tools will be developed drawing upon the experiences and knowledge of participant NHRIs and relevant institutions in the regions, which will be shared at the Round Table.
The Round Table will
· review the general concepts of ESCR,
· explore state obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil ESCR,
· examine international and regional mechanisms available for the promotion and protection of ESCR,
· explore the "new dimension" of ESCR due to the changing political, economic and social environments in the world since the adoption of the Covenant,
· examine the role of NHRIs in the promotion and protection of such rights,
· develop practical strategies for NHRIs to employ in the promotion and protection of ESCR, and
· strengthen cooperation and mutually reinforcing relationships on ESCR among NHRIs at the international and regional levels.