3. The ICESCR is part of the International Bill of Human
Rights, along with the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR) and The International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The Covenant is monitored by the UN Committee on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The ICESCR has it’s root in the same process that led to the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
4. The first document became the International Covenant on Civil
and Political rights, and the second the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
5. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16th
December, 1966 and came into effect on 3rd January, 1976.
ICESCR consists a preamble and 31 Articles, divided into
following 5 parts:-
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
6. Part 1 (Article 1) :-
Recognizes the rights of all peoples to self determination
including the right to “Freely determine their political status”
pursue their economic, social and cultural goals, and manage and
dispose off their own resources.
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
7. Part 2 (Article 2-5) :-
Establishes the principles of “progressive realization”. It also
requires the right be recognized without discrimination of any kind
as to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other.
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
8. Part 3 (Article 6-15) :- Lists the rights :-
Work, under “just and favorable conditions”.
Right to form and join trade unions.
Social security, including social insurance.
An adequate standard of living.
Participation in cultural life.
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
9. Part 4 (Article 16-25) :-
Governs reporting and monitoring of the covenant and the steps
taken by the parties to implement it.
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
10. Part 5 (Article 26-31) :-
Governs ratification, entry into force, and amendment of the
covenant.
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
11. Differences between ICCPR and ICESCR
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
ICCPR are the First
Generation or FIRST
class right.
ICCPR get more
attention.
ICESCR are the Second
Generation or Second
class right.
ICESCR get less
attention than ICCPR.
12. Differences between ICCPR and ICESCR
Second Generation /
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICescr)
Talks about Civil and
Political Rights
Western countries more
inclined to Civil and
Political rights.
Talks about Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights
Eastern countries more
inclined to economic,
social and Cultural rights
