420 Devonshire Road,
Windsor, Ontario N8Y 4T6
Tel: 1.519.252.9301
Fax: 1.416.352.5507
Email: leilani@equalityrights.org
Windsor ~
340 College Street, Suite 101A, Box 23,
Toronto, Ontario M5T 3A9
Tel: 1.416.944.0087 / 1.800.263.1139 (outside Toronto)
Fax: 1.416.944.1803
Email: cera@equalityrights.org
Toronto ~
www.equalityrights.org/cera
U P D A T E
Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:
A Recent Development in International
Human Rights Law
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recently adopted
General Comment N. 16, its first interpretation of the equality rights provision contained in
Article 3 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Article 3 ensures the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic,
social and cultural rights contained in the Covenant. As such, Article 3 and its
interpretation are particularly important for the exercise and enjoyment of economic,
social and cultural rights for women.
This UPDATE addresses the following questions:
What are ‘General Comments’ and What Is their Value?
Why are Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Important for Women?
What Are the Key Elements of General Comment N. 16?
How Can this General Comment Be Used in Your Work?
This UPDATE is intended to assist advocates, lawyers, and others in understanding the
content of General Comment N.16 so that it can be used in local activities to promote
and protect women’s economic and social rights.
WHAT ARE GENERAL COMMENTS?
When a country signs or ratifies an international treaty, like the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), they become a “party” to that treaty. A
party to a treaty is obliged to submit reports and appear before the United Nations (UN)
every five years to demonstrate how they have implemented the treaty back home.
The body responsible for overseeing compliance with the Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights is called the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(“the CESCR” or “the Committee”).
The CESCR also adopts legal interpretations of the rights contained in the Covenant.
These are called ‘General Comments’.
For example, the Committee has adopted
General Comments on the right to adequate housing, health, and education. In May
2005 they adopted General Comment N. 16: Article 3: The Equal Right of Men and
Women to the Enjoyment of All Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Windsor, Ontario N8Y 4T6
Tel: 1.519.252.9301
Fax: 1.416.352.5507
Email: leilani@equalityrights.org
Windsor ~
340 College Street, Suite 101A, Box 23,
Toronto, Ontario M5T 3A9
Tel: 1.416.944.0087 / 1.800.263.1139 (outside Toronto)
Fax: 1.416.944.1803
Email: cera@equalityrights.org
Toronto ~
www.equalityrights.org/cera
U P D A T E
Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:
A Recent Development in International
Human Rights Law
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recently adopted
General Comment N. 16, its first interpretation of the equality rights provision contained in
Article 3 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Article 3 ensures the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic,
social and cultural rights contained in the Covenant. As such, Article 3 and its
interpretation are particularly important for the exercise and enjoyment of economic,
social and cultural rights for women.
This UPDATE addresses the following questions:
What are ‘General Comments’ and What Is their Value?
Why are Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Important for Women?
What Are the Key Elements of General Comment N. 16?
How Can this General Comment Be Used in Your Work?
This UPDATE is intended to assist advocates, lawyers, and others in understanding the
content of General Comment N.16 so that it can be used in local activities to promote
and protect women’s economic and social rights.
WHAT ARE GENERAL COMMENTS?
When a country signs or ratifies an international treaty, like the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), they become a “party” to that treaty. A
party to a treaty is obliged to submit reports and appear before the United Nations (UN)
every five years to demonstrate how they have implemented the treaty back home.
The body responsible for overseeing compliance with the Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights is called the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(“the CESCR” or “the Committee”).
The CESCR also adopts legal interpretations of the rights contained in the Covenant.
These are called ‘General Comments’.
For example, the Committee has adopted
General Comments on the right to adequate housing, health, and education. In May
2005 they adopted General Comment N. 16: Article 3: The Equal Right of Men and
Women to the Enjoyment of All Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.