Frequently Asked Questions on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Frequently Asked Questions on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Fact Sheet No. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Frequently Asked Questions on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Fact Sheet No. 33 NOTE The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Material contained in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, provided credit is given and a copy of the publication containing the reprinted material is sent to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, 8-14 avenue de la Paix, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. ii CONTENTS Page Introduction................................................................................... 1 1. What are economic, social and cultural rights?........................ 1 2. Whyisprotectingeconomic,socialandculturalrightsimportant?.. 4 3. Are economic, social and cultural rights new rights? ............... 5 4. Are economic, social and cultural rights individual rights? ....... 8 5. Are economic, social and cultural rights fundamentally different from civil and political rights?.................................................. 8 6. What are the obligations of States on economic, social and cultural rights?........................................................................ 11 7. What is the “progressive realization” of economic, social and cultural rights?........................................................................ 13 8. What kind of obligations towards economic, social and cultural rights should be implemented immediately?............................ 15 9. What are some examples of violations of economic, social and cultural rights?........................................................................ 17 10. Is gender relevant to economic, social and cultural rights?....... 18 11. Do economic, social and cultural rights oblige Governments to supply goods and services free of charge?............................... 20 12. Do economic, social and cultural rights make people dependent on welfare?............................................................................. 21 13. Do economic, social and cultural rights flow naturally from democracy or economic growth?............................................ 22 14. Do economic, social and cultural rights prohibit the private provision of essential goods and services?............................... 23 15. Is achieving the Millennium Development Goals the same as realizing economic, social and cultural rights?......................... 24 16. Do economic, social and cultural rights apply during emergencies, disasters and armed conflicts?................................................. 25 17. Who has a role to play in promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights nationally?........................................ 27 18. Are economic, social and cultural rights «justiciable»?............. 30 iii Page 19. How can we monitor the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights?........................................................ 32 20. What monitoring mechanisms exist internationally?................ 35 Annex ........................................................................................... 39 iv ... - tailieumienphi.vn