Table of Contents

Copyright Information

Acknowledgements

The International Human Rights Internship Program

Introduction

• The International Workshop on National-Level Activism in ESC Rights
• Ripple in Still Water: Reflections by Activists on Local- and National-Level Work on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Structure of the Resource

Section I: Developing a Framework for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Activism

Chapter 1: General Principles for ESC Rights Activism

• The Emergence of a Rights Approach
• What Has Motivated Some Groups to Use a Rights Approach?
• The Rights Framework and Approach
• Human Rights are Interdependent and Indivisible
• Rights Apply to All Individuals on the Basis of Equality and Non-Discrimination
• Rights Denote Certain Governmental Obligations
• Rights Are Justiciable
• Rights Can and Should Be Claimed
• Guidelines for Activism

Chapter 2: Content of International Standards

• Clarifying Human Rights Concepts
• Core Content
• Minimum Core Content
• State Obligation
• Indicators
• Elaborating the Contents of Rights
• Focused Study and Discussion
• A Case Approach
• "Violations Approach"
• Other Human Rights Standards and Principles that May Be Used
• Non-Discrimination
• Participation and Freedom of Information
• Progressive Realization

Section II: Strategies and Tools for ESC Rights Activism

Chapter 3: Organizational Issues, Goals and Strategies

• Example: FLAG and its Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Program
• Example: Developing Initiatives for Social and Human Action

Chapter 4: Monitoring

• What Is Human Rights Monitoring?
• Focus and Purpose of Monitoring
• Principles Related to Human Rights Monitoring
• Impartiality and Accuracy
• Application of Human Rights Standards
• Utilizing Diverse Sources of Information
• Data Collection from and with Victims and Affected Communities
• Data Collection from NGOs and Community-Based Organizations
• Using Government Reports and Information
• Problems and Challenges

Chapter 5: Education and Mobilization

• Human Rights Education
• Mobilization
• Considerations of Different Targets for Human Rights Education and Mobilization
• Working with Communities and Constituencies
• HRE with Community-Based Organizations and Other NGOs
• Work with Government Agencies and Officials

Chapter 6: Policy Work, Legislative Advocacy and Litigation

• Are ESC Rights for Courts or Policy-Makers to Enforce?
• Policy Work
• Legislative Advocacy
• Litigation
• Challenges Related to Policy Work, Legislative Advocacy and Litigation

Chapter 7: Work with Intergovernmental Bodies

• Should an Organization Use Intergovernmental Mechanisms?
• Some Uses of Intergovernmental Mechanisms for National- and Local-Level NGOs
• Using Recommendations and General Comments Issued by Intergovernmental Bodies
• The Use of Complaints Procedures
• Development of NGO Alternative Reports
• Work on Multilateral Development Banks

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Bibliography

Appendix B: A List of Relevant United Nations Documents and Partial Compilation of ESC Rights Standards

Appendix C: Examples of Matrices Designed by the Caribbean Initiative on Equality and Non-Discrimination for the Development of National Laws and Policies

Appendix D: Budget Analysis

Appendix E: Provea and the Case of El Hornito

Appendix F: Excerpt from a Submission to the African Commission for Human and Peoples

Appendix G: Excerpt from Health as a Right by Provea

Appendix H: Chiangmai Statement on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Appendix I: Workshop Participant List