Ecuadorian National Assembly decides to ratify Optional Protocol to ICESCR
On Tuesday, March 30, the National Assembly of Ecuador gave approval for ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It is the first country to do so and the Steering Committee of the NGO Coalition encourages other States to follow its lead. Once the Optional Protocol enters into force, it will allow groups and individuals whose economic, social and cultural rights have been violated to present a complaint before the United Nations and seek redress.
The decision to ratify was obtained with the overwhelming support of the National Assembly. Ecuador will complete the process once it deposits its instrument of ratification with the United Nations Secretariat. As other countries are also in the process of getting internal approval, we look forward to seeing which country will be the first to write history. Ten ratifications are needed for the Optional Protocol to enter into force.
We commend all the governmental branches of Ecuador involved in the decision to ratify the Optional Protocol and the efforts of civil society organizations to advance this process. The NGO Coalition encourages all states to complete the ratification process and ensure justice for victims of violations of economic, social and cultural rights when national remedies are not effective or available.
Steering Committee of the NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR
– Amnesty International
– Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), Switzerland
– Community Law Centre, South Africa
– FIAN International (FoodFirst Information and Action Network)
– Inter-American Platform of Human Rights, Democracy and Development (PIDHDD), Paraguay
– International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Switzerland
– International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), France
– International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net), United States
– International Women’s Rights Action Watch – Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific), Malaysia
– Social Rights Advocacy Center (SRAC), Canada