Optional Protocol on Social Rights opens for Signature

The Optional Protocol will introduce a new complaints mechanism that will allow victims of human rights violations, such as violations of the rights to health, education, food and housing, to address the United Nations if they were not able to obtain relief in their country. In an historic step, the text of this new instrument was adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly on the occasion of last year’s sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 2008.

Civil society organisations and individuals affiliated in the International NGO Coalition for an Optional Protocol have followed and substantially influenced this process for many years.  FIAN International has been lobbying for more than a decade within civil society initiatives such as the NGO Coalition´s campaigns towards the elaboration and adoption of such an instrument. It is therefore with great satisfaction and expectations that the organization welcomes today´s signing ceremony. At the same time, efforts will continue, until the first ten states will have ratified the Optional Protocol for it to enter into force.In times where the number of hungry people has reached a peak in the history of humanity, it is bluntly evident that social rights such as the right to adequate food need more attention and respect than ever. FIAN hopes that the adoption and entry into force of the Optional Protocol will help fostering political will, better understanding and eventually promote people’s full enjoyment of these rights.