United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

Context: The representatives of fugitive ‘godman’ Nithyananda’s self-proclaimed country, the United States of Kailasa (USK), attended a discussion conducted by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) recently.

About United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights:

• The Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is the body of 18 independent experts that monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights by its States parties.
• It was established under ECOSOC Resolution 1985/17 in 1985.
• All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how economic, social, and cultural rights are being implemented.
• States must report initially within two years of accepting the Covenant and thereafter every five years.
•  The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of “concluding observations”.
• The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which entered into force in 2013, gives the Committee competence to receive and consider communications from individuals claiming that their rights under the Covenant have been violated.
• The Committee meets in Geneva and normally holds two sessions per year.

Objectives :

• to carry out the monitoring functions assigned to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in Part IV of the Covenant.
• Drawing on the legal and practical expertise of its members.
• It also helps States in fulfilling their obligations under the Covenant by issuing specific legislative, policy, and other recommendations so that economic, social, and cultural rights are better protected.

It seeks to:

• develop a constructive dialogue with State parties
• determine whether the Covenant’s norms are being applied in State parties
• assess how the implementation and enforcement of the Covenant could be improved

Source: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Previous Year Questions

Q.1.In which one of the following groups are all four countries members of G20? (2020)

1. Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey
2. Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and New Zealand
3. Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam
4. Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea

Q.2. Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?

1. Undernourishment
2. Child stunting
3. Child mortality

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. 1 and 3 only

Q3. With reference to ‘The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’, consider the following statements : (2016)

1. It is an organization of the European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.
2. It monitors the chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.
3. It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3