ICESCR

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is a multilateral treaty of the United Nations that commits its parties to work toward the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and entered into force on January 3, 1976. Along with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), it forms the core of the International Bill of Human Rights.

The ICESCR sets out a range of rights, including the right to work under just and favorable conditions; the right to form and join trade unions; social security; an adequate standard of living including adequate food, clothing, and housing; the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the right to education; and the right to participate in cultural life and to benefit from scientific progress and its applications. It also recognizes the right of peoples to self-determination and prohibits discrimination in the exercise of these rights. The Covenant emphasizes that the realization of these rights may be achieved progressively and that states must take steps to advance their realization, while striving to guarantee non-discrimination.

Implementation is overseen by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), which monitors state reporting and compliance. An Optional Protocol provides a mechanism for individual complaint and inquiry, though not all states have ratified it. The ICESCR remains a central instrument for promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights worldwide.