Draft Protocol to Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is Finalised

The Open Ended Working Group on a Draft Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has completed, as of 4 April 2008, the draft text which is now before the Human Rights Council for adoption. It is hoped this will proceed through the system and be adopted by the United Nations General Assembly later this year. The Optional Protocol provides for an individual petition mechanism to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. For information: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/escr/intro.htm.