Crucial UN agreement promises greater protection of human rights
Posted: December 12, 2008
The United Nations building in New York. On December 10, the UN adopted the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Stephen Chernin/Getty Images
Governments chose December 10, 2008 - International Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - to adopt an important new human rights instrument.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
This means that people will now be able to make complaints at the United Nations about violations of their rights to adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, health, and education.
Many people around the world suffer violations of these rights, but have been prevented from holding accountable those responsible for the abuses. People who live in poverty particularly face great difficulties accessing justice.
For decades, it has been possible for people to make complaints at the United Nations about civil and political rights. The new protocol finally makes it clear that economic, social and cultural rights are as important as civil and political rights.
Amnesty International has been campaigning with other organizations for the past four years for this development. Amnesty is calling on all governments to ensure that the enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights becomes reality for all those whose rights have been violated.