Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following open letter from Steering Committee of the NGO Coalition for the OP-ICESCR to the governments of countries which have not ratified the Optional Protocol of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
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An Open Letter from Steering Committee of the NGO Coalition for the OP-ICESCR forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
WORLD: Call for Action to support signature, ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
At a time when the protection of economic, social and cultural rights has never been more important, we call on you to sign and ratify or accede to the new Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly and opened for signature on 24 September 2009.
The Protocol creates a mechanism through which individuals and groups, whose rights such as the rights to adequate housing, food, water, health, work, social security, and education have been violated, and who have not been able to achieve justice in their own countries, can apply to the UN for assistance in finding a resolution.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the opening for signature, ratification and accession of the Protocol on 24 September, we urge the governments to take all necessary steps to become a party to the Protocol without reservations and fully implement it without delay.
We draw your attention to the UN treaty event on 21-23 and 27-28 September at the United Nations headquarters in New York. We urge you to take advantage of the presence of the representative of your government at the High-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals in New York from 20-22 September to attend the treaty event and to sign and ratify the OP-ICESCR. We believe that human rights must be central to efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. By ratifying the protocol, the government would show that it is willing to empower people living in poverty so that they can hold governments accountable for their rights.
We also urge you to make a declaration, when you become a party to the Protocol, recognizing the competence of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to undertake inquiry and interstate procedures under this Protocol.
We call on you to show leadership on this issue. By becoming a party to the Protocol, your Government can demonstrate its commitment to protecting human rights and eradicating poverty at home and internationally. This will also send an important signal to other states that it is now time to ensure access to remedies to victims of all forms of human rights violations.
The Protocol is a much needed and concrete step to rectify the gaps in international protection for victims of violations of economic, social and cultural rights. We hope that you will act to strengthen the recognition and implementation of economic, social and cultural rights and access to justice for all victims.
We hope to have the opportunity to continue working with your government in support of this mechanism. We would be pleased to provide further information and to meet to discuss this issue.
We thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Steering Committee of the NGO Coalition for the OP-ICESCR
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
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