Center for Economic and Social Rights - Social Justice through Human Rights

Visualizing Rights: India and Bolivia Under Scrutiny in New CESR Fact Sheets

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 14:13:20 -0400

Economic and Social Rights in India and Bolivia Scrutinized in New CESR Fact Sheets

These fact sheets are intended to contribute to ongoing monitoring work to hold states accountable for their economic and social rights obligations. The Center for Economic and Social Rights hopes that they will be helpful to various UN and other intergovernmental human rights mechanisms including the Treaty Bodies, Special Rapporteurs and the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review.

Download the India fact sheet (PDF)

Download the Bolivia fact sheet (PDF)

The wrong sort of rights? CESR responds to Economist article on economic and social rights

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 05:57:31 -0400

The 24 March 2007 issue of The Economist magazine carried a leader article ("Stand up for your rights") which argued that economic and social rights were "a distraction" and that no useful purpose was served by viewing basic necessities such as food, health and housing as human rights.

A New Approach to Monitoring and Advocating for Economic and Social Rights

Fri, 19 May 2006 09:52:55 -0400

Economic and Social Rights: Taking Stock

Significant changes have occurred in the field of economic and social rights since the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) was established in 1993. The international community has given increasing recognition to the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights: civil, political, economic, social, and cultural. At the same time, extraordinary progress has been made by the UN Committee on Economic and Social Rights, the UN special rapporteurs, and the academic community in elucidating the content of economic and social rights and the nature of concomitant state obligations.

Prominent Human Rights Advocates and Academics Join CESR's Board

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 14:18:02 -0500

Prominent Human Rights Advocates and Academics Join CESR's Board; Changes Part of New Strategic Direction to Tackle Challenge of Monitoring Economic and Social Rights Worldwide

As part of a strategic re-visioning process to strengthen its leadership and programs, the Chair of the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), Philip Alston, and the organization’s new Executive Director, Eitan Felner, announce the appointment of Victor Abramovich, Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, José María Maravall and Richard Goldstone to the Board of Directors.

Position available: Senior Researcher // Posición vacante: Investigador/a Senior

Fri, 10 Jun 2005 06:07:32 -0400

The search is currently closed. 1148398052

Beyond Torture: U.S. Violations of Occupation Law in Iraq

Thu, 10 Jun 2004 09:36:29 -0400

Click here for the pdf version [402 kb]

Los niños de la ciudad de Nueva York tienen derecho a la educación

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 17:21:32 -0500

El derecho a participar

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 16:59:52 -0500

El derecho a la educación y a un ambiente seguro en la escuela

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 16:51:54 -0500

Human Rights Advocacy: How Can We Use Human Rights in the U.S.?

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 13:29:27 -0500

From the Independent Commission on Public Education, New York City

In the United States, it is hard to use direct legal action to enforce human rights obligations. The U.S. has not ratified the several major human rights treaties, including those protecting the right to education. As a result, international treaties have not become part of our domestic law and do not provide a cause of action in court. Even when the U.S. does ratify a treaty, Congress makes what are called “reservations,” “understandings” and “declarations” that prevent individuals from using the treaties in U.S. courts. So, what are other ways that can we use human rights in the U.S.?

International Human Rights Treaties and Conventions on the Right to Education

Tue, 24 Feb 2004 11:42:31 -0500

Handout for ICOPE Meeting, February 24, 2004
Right to Education Project, Center for Economic and Social Rights

All the major international human rights treaties and declarations are on the UN website at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/intlinst.htm

There are two main types of international human rights documents: 1) treaties and conventions; and 2) declarations. Treaties and conventions are binding legal documents that governments are legally obligated to follow once they have ratified them. Declarations are non-binding documents that declare human rights standards and aspirations. Some declarations, however, can become so accepted among the international community and governments worldwide that they essentially become binding international law. Treaties, conventions and covenants mean the same thing.

Right to Water in Palestine: Crisis in Gaza

Fri, 11 Apr 2003 12:35:43 -0400

Right to Water in Palestine: A Background

Fri, 11 Apr 2003 12:28:55 -0400

Water Under Siege in Iraq: US/UK Military Forces Risk Committing War Crimes by Depriving Civilians of Safe Water

Sat, 05 Apr 2003 16:10:10 -0500

PDF file of the report by the Center for Economic and Social Rights charges that the United States and United Kingdom risk committing war crimes by depriving Iraqi civilians of safe water.

CESR Editorial: The Second American Revolution, by Roger Normand and Jan Goodwin

Fri, 21 Mar 2003 15:36:43 -0500

We are in the midst of a new American revolution. The task at hand according to the Pentagon’s own official documents, is nothing less than establishing “full spectrum dominance” of a “unipolar world.”