The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) commits signatory states to uphold a range of rights within their jurisdiction, including the right to an adequate standard of living, the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, work, social security, education and cultural life. As a signatory of ICESCR the United Kingdom is reviewed by the United Nations every four years for its performance under the Covenant.

The next review of the UK is scheduled to take place in 2023. Civil society can contribute to this treaty monitoring process by submitting shadow reports to the United Nations that will inform them of the local status of these rights and help them in holding the United Kingdom to account. The deadline for shadow reports to the ICESCR process is 5th January 2023.

To help civil society organisations better understand the UN treaty monitoring process and prepare to make their own submission the Human Rights Consortium will be hosting an information and training session on Tuesday 8th November at 11am via Zoom.

This event will introduce the UN Treaty monitoring system, the details of the ICESCR treaty, key dates for the forthcoming review, how to draft and submit a shadow report and an overview of previous ICESCR reviews of the UK.

The event will be most suitable for those with limited or no experience of the UN treaty monitoring system and those who wish to make a submission to the ICESCR review of the UK for the first time.

You can register for the event here.

If your organisation is unable to make a submission to the UN review but still wishes to raise important issues within the shadow reporting process, please contact the Consortium by e-mailing kevin@humanrightsconsortium.org We can discuss how your concerns might be inserted into the joint submission being developed by the Consortium.