event - OP

Permanent Mission of Uruguay
to the United Nations
Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights
Permanent Mission of Portugal
to the United Nations
INVITATION
Special event on
The protection of economic, social and cultural rights: celebrating the
second anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights invites, with the co-sponsorship of the
Permanent Missions of Portugal and Uruguay, on behalf of the Group of Friends to the Optional
Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights1
on Monday, 11 May 2015
UN Secretariat Conference Building, Conference Room 11
11AM to 1PM
With a keynote speech by Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
entered into force on 5 May 2013. To celebrate the second aniversary of this important milestone
for human rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Group of
Friends to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights will co-host on 11 May 2015 an special event on the legal protection of economic, social
and cultural rights. The event, aimed at encouraging ratifications by other countries, will offer an
overview of the content of the Optional Protocol, its provisions and mechanisms, and the
connections between the domestic and international legal protection of economic, social and
cultural rights.
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The Group of Friends to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights is composed of Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Finland, France, Montenegro, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay.
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Programme
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Keynote speech: Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights
H.E. Amb. Alvaro Mendonça e Moura, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the
United Nations
H.E. Amb. Gonzalo Koncke, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United
Nations
Moderated by: Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and
United Nations Legal Counsel
Statements and comments from the floor
Conclusions by the panel
Background
Despite the recognition by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the indivisibility of
human rights, economic, social and cultural rights were not given the same attention and status
when compared to civil and political rights. This historic gap in the protection of economic,
social and cultural rights was finally addressed by the Optional Protocol to the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP–ICESCR).
The Optional Protocol was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December
2008 and grants the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) the
competence to receive and consider communications from alleged victims of violations of the
rights included in the ICESCR and to conduct inquiries in cases of grave or systematic
violations. The ability of victims to complaint about the violation of their rights to international
mechanisms brings meaning to the rights enshrined in human rights treaties. Following its tenth
ratification, the instrument entered into force on May 5th 2013. The Optional Protocol has 45
signatories and 20 State Parties, with additional ratifications expected to be confirmed in the
coming months.
The Group of Friends to the OP ICESCR and OHCHR will host an informative meeting to take
stock of recent progress, celebrate the entry into force of the Optional Protocol, and encourage
new ratifications. The purpose of the panel is to facilitate constructive and informed dialogue
about the importance of the OP-ICESCR in reinforcing the equal value of all human rights by
ensuring the legal protection of economic, social and cultural rights. The panel aims at offering
an overview of the content of the Optional Protocol, its provisions and mechanisms, and the
connections between the domestic and international legal protection of ESCR.
Participation
This event is open to all Member States, civil society representatives and general public. In case
you are interested and do not have a UN badge, please write to uruguay@un.int or
mmartins@missionofportugal.org
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