Influencing the UN system

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Influencing the UN system
The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture

• The
• Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

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Influencing the UN system CESCR
Opportunities for NGOs to Influence the Work of
the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights

• submission of a Pre-sessional list of issues
  drawn up in the light of a State Report
• preparation of an alternative report for
  submission to the Committee prior to the
  examination of a State Report
• Follow-up on concluding observations and
  recommendations
• participation in the Committees General
  Discussion Days
• drafting of General Comments
• submission of communications or urgent appeals
• And soon
• The Optional Protocol to the Covenant on
  Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

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Influencing the UN system CESCR
What the Committee on Economic Social and
Cultural Rights says about the root causes of
torture and other forms of violence
Domestic Violence Serbia and Montenegro, 2005
The Committee expresses its deep concern about
the high incidence of domestic violence, often
resulting from psychological distress caused by
unemployment . Ukraine, 2001 Most low-paid
workers and 80 per cent of the unemployed are
women. They are also frequently victims of
violence in the family and of sexual harassment
in the workplace.
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Influencing the UN system CESCR
What the Committee on Economic Social and
Cultural Rights says about the root causes of
torture and other forms of violence
Vulnerable populations - Roma Albania, 2006 The
Committee is concerned that ethnic minorities in
Albania, in particular the Roma and the Egyptian
communities, suffer from discrimination and
serious disadvantages in access to services and
only enjoy a limited protection of their
economic, social and cultural rights. The
Committee is also seriously concerned about the
reports of ill-treatment and excessive use of
force by law enforcement officials vis-à-vis
these persons, notwithstanding the explanation
provided by the State party that they are
isolated incidents.
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Influencing the UN system CESCR
What the Committee on Economic Social and
Cultural Rights says about the root causes of
torture and other forms of violence
Vulnerable populations - indigenous Bolivia,
2001 The Committee is concerned about the large
housing shortage, the incidence of forced
evictions with respect to peasants and indigenous
populations in favour of mining and lumber
concessions, and the absence of effective
measures to provide social housing for
low-income, vulnerable and marginalized groups.
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Influencing the UN system CESCR
What the Committee on Economic Social and
Cultural Rights says about the root causes of
torture and other forms of violence

• Development projects and forced evictions
• Greece, 2004 Olympic Games
• China, 2008 Olympic Games
• China, Three Gorges dam project
• Mexico, La Parota dam project

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Influencing the UN system CESCR
What the Committee on Economic Social and
Cultural Rights says about the root causes of
torture and other forms of violence
The link between violence and the denial of
economic, social and cultural rights Kenya, 2008
The Committee is concerned that disparities in
the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural
rights, including access to land, have led to
inter-ethnic tensions and post-election violence
during which at least 1,500 persons were killed
early in 2008. The Committee recommends that
the State party address disparities in the
enjoyment of economic, social and cultural
rights, including in access to land, which
particularly affect poor people in urban areas
and minority and indigenous communities in rural
areas.
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Influencing the UN system CESCR
What the Committee on Economic Social and
Cultural Rights says about the root causes of
torture and other forms of violence
The link between violence and the denial of
economic, social and cultural rights human
rights defenders Brazil, 2009 The Committee is
deeply concerned about the culture of violence
and impunity prevalent in the State party. In
this regard, the Commitee is concerned about
reports that human rights defenders, including
those assisting individuals and communites in
asserting their economic, social and cultural
rights, are threatened, harassed and subjected to
violence, frequiently by private militias
commissioned by public and private actors. The
Committee is concerned at reports of the murders
of union leaders. In addition the Commitee notes
with concern that trade union leaders are
frequently subjected to other forms of harassment
, including intimidation and malicious
prosecution
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The World Organisation Against Torture
Thank you