Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 2008. "Guidelines for Preparation of Progress Indicators in the Area of ESCR".
- Objective: To provide state parties (in LAC), other agencies of the IA system and CSOs with a tool that serves as a basis of the presentation of reports under the Protocol of San Salvador, and for the design of a permanent international evaluation mechanism for state parties.
- Key characteristics: Focuses on ex-post analysis of progress against indicators, designed mainly for governments, although can be adapted for CSOs.
- Brief summary: Provides a methodology to measure the progressive realization of rights and the conditions that favor effective access to rights. The first section discusses the various strategies that could increase the effectiveness of the economic, social and cultural rights standards (based on the Protocol of San Salvador). The second section then explains the difference between socioeconomic indicators and human rights indicators, making clear that this methodology is not meant to repeat the work of other agencies already involved in indicators (such as those using them as development indicators). The third section introduces the methodology for using quantitative and qualitative indicators. It is important to note here that the difference between qualitative and quantitative indicators is empirical rather than conceptual, and that both are critical for the evaluation process. Section four discusses the crosscutting issues that allow for decisions as to whether the necessary conditions are present for people to access their esc rights. Section five is where the set of quantitative indicators and qualitative signs of progress are introduced.
- Best used for: State reporting to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Provides useful table on structural, process and outcome indicators on issues of discrimination etc.
- Data needed: Up-to-date and reliable statistics, including disaggregated data.
- Possible disadvantages: How to align this tool, meant only for those party to the Protocol of San Salvador, with those states not party to this protocol?
- Going forward: How can this tool be applied in monitoring at the national level?
- Complementary tools: A good stand alone tool, but to be adapted to the international arena, see Riedel, Felner, OHCHR