2019

Uruguay: Conversation

March 13, 2019

The Special Rapporteur participated in a discussion in Uruguay where she referred to the realities and progress of the Office of the Rapporteur. The event was organized by the Uruguayan Human Rights Secretariat, the State, civil society, and academia.

United States: OAS Permanent Council on human rights in business

Washington, D.C., March 7, 2019

The Office of the Special Rapporteur led the special session of the Permanent Council on Business and Human Rights on March 7, 2019. The Rapporteur thanked the public institutions of different countries that contributed to the preparation of the report. Likewise, to the contributions provided by civil society organizations.



2018

Colombia: II Inter-American Forum on Human Rights

Bogotá, December 10, 2018

The Special Rapporteur, Soledad García, participated in the DESCA panel of the Inter-American Forum together with Luis Fernando Arias from the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia and Patricia Linares, president of the JEP Colombia.

United States: OAS Permanent Council

Washington, December 3, 2018

The Special Rapporteur, Soledad García, presented to the Permanent Council of the OAS the preliminary agenda of the session regarding Business and Human Rights to be held on March 7, 2019.

Colombia: Discussion and presentation of a new book

Medellín, November 29, 2018

The Special Rapporteur participated in a discussion and presentation of a new book on Energy, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development, published with the support of the Heinrich Boll Stiftung on November 29, 2018.

Mexico: Mexican Congress of Constitutional Procedural Law

Oct 25, 2018

The Special Rapporteur participated in the Mexican Congress of Constitutional Procedural Law on October 25, 2018.

Mexico: ESCA International Forum

23 Oct 2018

The Rapporteur gave two keynote lectures, one on the gender perspective and women's rights in light of the mandate of the REDESCA-IACHR in an event organized by the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí on August 20 and the other on to the common agenda between the SDGs and the ESCR within the framework of the International ESCR Forum and the 2030 Agenda organized by the CNDH of Mexico on October 23.

Mexico: Third International Meeting of ISHR Specialists and Networks

Mexico City, October 22, 2018

REDESCA organized the meeting of ESCR experts from the Observatory of the Inter-American Human Rights System of UNAM on October 22 and 23, within the framework of the thematic report led by the Office of the Special Rapporteur.

United States: Workshop on Inter-American Standards on Access to Environmental Information

Washington, October 16, 2018

Within the framework of the Workshop on Inter-American Standards on Access to Environmental Information , organized by the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and the NGO DAR; REDESCA presented on the effect of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights.

Launch of Zika report

The Special Rapporteur DESCA participated in the launch of the Zika report on October 2, 2018, organized by the Center for Reproductive Rights, together with Commissioner Margarette Macaulay.

Guatemala: Workshop "Promotion of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights in the Inter-American system"

Guatemala, October 2018

More than 40 officials of the Court of Constitutionality of the Republic of Guatemala attended an introductory workshop on ESCER in the Inter-American System, provided within the framework of a project sponsored by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, where their participation and interest in the subjects of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur DESCA.

United States: Session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States

Washington, September 27, 2018

In September 2018, thanks to the efforts made by the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the OAS, the DESCA Special Rapporteur presented before the Permanent Council in an extraordinary session, on the occasion of the first anniversary of REDESCA, a summary was presented on the activities carried out to date since the inauguration of the Special Rapporteur.

Webinar on the importance of Advisory Opinion 23-17

September 20, 2018

The Special Rapporteur was a panelist in a Webinar organized in cooperation with AIDA and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights regarding the application of Advisory Opinion OC-23/17.

Mexico: Fix Zamudio Course

September 3, 2018

The Rapporteur gave a lecture during the Fix Zamudio Course in Mexico on September 3. The training was carried out for public servants with the Human Rights Commission of the Federal District on ESCR.

Germany: Colloquium and discussion on DESCA

Heidelberg, Germany, June 25-29, 2018

The Special Rapporteur participated in the colloquium and discussion on DESCA at the Max Planck Institute and also had a fruitful working and exchange session with FIAN International in the city of Heidelberg, Germany, from June 25 to 29.

United States: Seminar on Business, Human Rights and Anti-Corruption

24 Aug 2018

The Special Rapporteur DESCA took part in a seminar organized by the Permanent Mission of Canada on Business, Human Rights, and Anti-Corruption on August 24.

United States: Special session of the OAS Council on environmental rights and the Inter-American System

Washington, August 22, 2018

The Special Rapporteur participated in a special session of the OAS Council on environmental rights and the Inter-American System at the invitation of the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica.

Mexico: Citizen Forum on ESCER and the Sustainable Development Goals

Guadalajara Mexico

In the framework Citizen Forum on ESCER and Sustainable Development Goals held in Guadalajara, and organized by the National Commission for Human Rights and the State Commission for Human Rights of Jalisco, the Special Rapporteur was part of the opening act of the event.

Mexico: International Seminar on the enforceability and protection of social rights

Mexico City, August 14-15, 2018

The Rapporteur participated in the International Seminar “the enforceability and protection of social rights” organized by the Center for Constitutional Studies of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation of Mexico and the Autonomous University of Mexico, on August 14 and 15.

Mexico: Forum on the right to the city and ESCER

Mexico City, August 13, 2018

The Special Rapporteur participated in the forum on the right to the city and ESCER in Mexico City organized by the Human Rights Commission of the Federal District on August 13.

United States: International Forum “Restoring Faith in Freedom”

Atlanta, July 21-24, 2018

The Special Rapporteur was invited by the Carter Center to participate in the International Forum “Restoring Faith in Freedom” in the city of Atlanta, from July 21 to 24, with the presence of several Human Rights Defenders Humans of the region, as well as the presence of former President Jimmy Carter of the United States.

United States: Conversation on companies and human rights

Washington, June 2018

The Special Rapporteur gave a course on ESCER and participated in a discussion on business and human rights at the Academy of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law of the Washington College of Law of the American University in June.

Peru: Summit of the Americas

April 11, 2018

The Special Rapporteur participated in the Summit of the Americas together with the IACHR, where she was also a panelist in the Forum “Venezuela, a crisis that impacts the world” and in the Forum “Promoting higher standards on access to information and transparency in the extractive sector on April 11.



2015

United States: Presentation of the World Bank Report “Women, Business and the Law 2016”

Washington DC, October 23

The DESC Unit in turn has collaborated with the Women's Rapporteurship in organizing a joint event with the World Bank on Friday, October 23, 2015, to present its report “Women, Business and the Law 2016”. The event will feature the participation of Commissioner Paulo Vanucchi, representatives of the World Bank, and Ambassadors to the OAS.

Costa Rica: Fifth ESCR Regional Consultation with experts, civil society and unions and state representatives

San Jose de Costa Rica, September 4-5, 2015

On September 4-5, 2015, the ESCR Unit coordinated and held the fifth Regional Consultation on ESCR in Costa Rica, co-sponsored by CEJIL Mesoamerica, aimed at civil society, social movements, and unions in Central America. Said consultation, held at the facilities of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, generated a space for dialogue on ESCR issues in Central America and made it possible to collect inputs on the priority concerns of this region, in order to be incorporated into the process of preparing the plan of work of the DESC Special Rapporteur.

United States: Colloquium at the OAS on Human Rights and Business

Washington DC, June 29, 2015

On June 29, 2015, the DESC Unit participated in a Colloquium held at the OAS, on the occasion of the visit of Dante Pesce, new Expert Member for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Working Group on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations, of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations. The Permanent Representative of Chile to the OAS, Ambassador Juan Pablo Lira organized the event, in which representatives of 12 OAS States also participated, giving rise to an open and informal dialogue on the current situation and the challenges of the issue related to human rights and companies in the region.

United States: Signature of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights of Older Persons

Washington DC, June 15

The DESC Unit was present at the signing of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights of Older Persons on June 15, 2015 (on that occasion it was signed by the States of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay). Indeed, the Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved it during the General Assembly of the OAS held at the headquarters of the Organization in Washington DC, and it was subsequently signed. According to the Convention itself, its purpose “is to promote, protect and ensure the recognition and full enjoyment and exercise, under conditions of equality, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of the elderly, in order to contribute to their full inclusion. , integration and participation in society ”. It also establishes that individuals can file complaints with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights regarding alleged violations of the human rights of older persons recognized in this instrument.

United States: Action Plan for the implementation of the Social Charter

Washington DC, June 15

The Member States of the Organization approved the Plan of Action for the implementation of the Social Charter of the Americas on June 15, 2015, during the General Assembly. The purpose of the Action Plan is to establish objectives and strategic lines of action in the areas of work, social protection, health, food and nutrition, education, housing, and basic public services, and culture, in order to contribute to the achievement of the principles, purposes, and priorities contained in the Social Charter of the Americas. This Action Plan aims to advance in eradicating poverty and hunger and urgently address the serious problems of social exclusion and inequality at all levels to achieve equity, inclusion, and social justice.

Chile: Launch of the National Business and Human Rights Plan

Santiago de Chile, April 24

In response to the request for technical collaboration from the State of Chile to the IACHR - the scope of which is still being discussed by the plenary session of the IACHR - the ESCER Unit participated with the presence of Commissioner Rosa Maria Ortiz in the Seminars to launch the National Plan Human Rights and Business (one for the general public and another for business) and in a training workshop on Human Rights and Business held between April 22 and 24, 2015. On April 22, the training workshop took place for the Diego Portales University technicians who will prepare the baseline for the aforementioned Action Plan and in which the ESCER Unit participated, surveying the standards that have emanated from the IACHR regarding the issue.

For its part, the seminars to launch the National Action Plan in Chile were held between April 23 and 24, in which presentations were made by the IACHR. L. The Seminar on April 23 was characterized by being a closed dialogue to which only general managers of companies were invited to disseminate the international standards applicable to the subject. The Seminar on April 24 was a seminar open to the public to which representatives of civil society, companies, and the State were invited.



2014

Brazil: Fourth ESCR consultation with experts, civil society and unions, and state representatives

Brasilia, December 9

In view of the future creation of a Special Rapporteur for ESCR, a fourth ESCR Consultation was held on December 9, 2014, in Brasilia in which there was a high number of participants among representatives of civil society and social movements from that country. , as well as state and union representatives. To carry out this consultation, we had the collaboration of the Government of Brazil. The aforementioned consultations provide the IACHR with very valuable space for conversation, treatment, and collection of inputs on the situation of ESCR in the Region. The IACHR will continue to carry out the aforementioned consultation process and it is anticipated that a consultation will be held in North America and another in the Caribbean, as well as a consultation for the States parties to the OAS.

Switzerland: Presentation of the work of the ESCER Unit at the Third Forum on Business and Human Rights

Geneva, December 1-3

The ESCER Unit made a presentation on its work at the Third Forum on Business and Human Rights, which took place from December 1-3, 2014 in Geneva. The ESCER Unit participated in the Forum at the invitation of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights. With the participation of around 2,000 representatives of States, companies, civil society, and international organizations, ways of dealing with the impacts that companies generate on the human rights situation were discussed.

Argentina: Presentation of the ESCR Unit in the framework of the XXV Meeting of High Authorities on Human Rights of Mercosur

Buenos Aires, November 19-21.

In the framework of the celebration of the XXV RAADDHH (Meeting of High Authorities on Human Rights of Mercosur), Commissioner Vannuchi made on November 21, 2014, a presentation of the ESCR Unit of the IACHR in said regional space, highlighting the priority objective to achieve joint efforts for the constitution of an ESCR Special Rapporteur within the IACHR. Also, on that occasion, Commissioner Vannuchi participated in the thematic seminar "External debt and human rights", organized by the aforementioned RAADDHH, which took place on Wednesday, November 19, 2014.

United States: Adoption of the DESC Unit Work Plan for the year 2015

Washington D.C., 153rd session, October 2014

During the 153rd regular period of sessions held in October 2014, the DESC Unit adopted a Work Plan for the period between November 1, 2014, and December 31, 2015. Key areas of the plan include the search for a Special Rapporteur for the ESCR unit, as well as the continuation of regional consultations on ESCR and activities related to the petition system and individual cases. In addition, the plan includes the production of a report on poverty and human rights, as well as mainstreaming, training, and promotion on ESCR. It should be noted that the ESCR unit integrated the issue of business and human rights into its Work Plan for the first time. Likewise, the aforementioned Plan includes fostering approaches and ways of collaboration with international organizations such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

 



2013

Brazil: World Forum on Human Rights to promote the exchange of ideas on the main advances and challenges in terms of social participation and the reduction of inequalities

Sao Paulo, December 10-13

Commissioner Rosa María Ortiz participated in the World Human Rights Forum organized by the Human Rights Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil, which aimed to promote a space for public debate on human rights in Brazil and in the world, and in particular, the exchange of ideas on the main advances and challenges focused on social participation, the reduction of inequalities and the responses of States to human rights violations and the fight against impunity.

Canada: Race, Discrimination and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in North America

November 22-23, 2013

On November 22 to 23, 2013, the IACHR, in conjunction with the Labour Law and Development Research Laboratory, Faculty of Law at McGill University, held a Special Forum on Race, Discrimination and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in North America .

The forum took place at McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

The forum featured a number of speakers and presenters on a range of topics including race and the criminal justice system, discrimination against indigenous peoples in North America, race and discrimination in matters of health, housing and education, race discrimination in the workplace, and race and religious accommodation in the workplace.

Commissioner Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons of African Descent (and at the time Commissioner in charge of the Economic Social and Cultural Rights Unit) keynote speech under the title "Setting the stage - an overview of race, discrimination and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in North America", while Commissioner José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez, (then IACHR Chair) delivered some opening remarks.

Italy: Meeting with FAO representatives to establish cooperation around the right to food

Rome, Italy, November 15

The Executive Secretary of the IACHR held a meeting with representatives of different departments of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in order to establish a cooperative relationship around the right to food within the framework of economic rights, social and cultural (ESCR).

Colombia: Presentation of the ESCR Unit at the Regional Forum of Latin America and the Caribbean on Business and Human Rights

Medellín, August 28-30

Commissioner Antoine made a presentation at the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights, held August 28-30 in Medellín, Colombia. The event was organized by the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNDP), and the Government of Colombia.

Chile: Meeting of specialists to define strategic priorities for the regional agenda on the situation of people with disabilities in ECLAC

Santiago de Chile, May 14-15

Between May 14 and 15, 2013, a “Meeting of Specialists to Define Strategic Priorities of the Regional Agenda on the Situation of Persons with Disabilities” was held at ECLAC Headquarters, in Santiago, Chile, at which Commissioner Rose-Marie Belle Antoine was invited. The Commissioner participated in Panel 2: Effective exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities, who made a presentation on the "Cases of human rights violations due to disability, presented before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights."

Commissioner Rose-Marie Antoine met in Santiago de Chile with Lorena Fríes Monleón, Director of the National Institute of Human Rights of Chile; Claudio Nash Rojas, Director of the Human Rights Center of the Law School of the University of Chile; with Judith Schönsteiner, Director of the Human Rights Center of the Diego Portales University Law School, and with senior officials from the Chilean Foreign Ministry. On that occasion, the Commissioner made the presentation of the ESCR Unit in order to establish collaboration links.

Argentina: Presentation by the Unit on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

Argentina, May 9-10, 2013

On May 9, 2013, Commissioner Rose-Marie Antoine, the IACHR Executive Secretary, and a specialist attorney from the Executive Secretariat participated in an event in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to introduce the IACHR Unit on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCR Unit). The event included the participation of experts, civil society representatives, and members of academia, who provided input to help the ESCR Unit build its agenda and set priorities in terms of issues of particular concern to civil society. The event was held in collaboration with the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS). On May 10, 2013, Commissioner Rose-Marie Antoine and a specialist attorney from the Executive Secretariat met with high-level officials from the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Labor, as well as with Argentina's Foreign Minister. Commissioner Antoine talked about the work the ESCR Unit has been doing, and the officials she met with expressed their commitment to work with the IACHR in its efforts in the area of economic, social, and cultural rights.

Bahamas: Second Meeting of the Working Groups of the XVII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor

April 16 - 18, 2013

On April 16, 2013, Commissioner Rose-Marie Antoine participated in a workshop in The Bahamas, in the context of the Second Meeting of the Working Groups of the XVII Inter-American Conferences of Ministers of Labor. The workshop was on the theme "The Situation of Vulnerable Groups in the Region as it Relates to their Access to the Labor Market." Commissioner Antoine's presentation was part of a panel discussion. Participants in the workshop included labor ministers, other government officials, and consultative bodies like the International Labor Organizaton (ILO).



2012

Uruguay: Regional Course on Indicators of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Social Policy

December 10-14, 2012

Commissioner Rose Marie Antoine was a distinguished panelist in the Regional Training Course on the "The use of economic, social and cultural rights indicators as a tool for an effective social policy", with took place from December 10th to 14th 2012, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Course was organized by the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Training Centre of the Spanish Cooperation Agency in Montevideo with support from the Uruguayan Ministry of Social Development, the Inter-American Human Rights Commission and the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights.

The course aimed to support the OAS Member States in the monitoring of economic, social and cultural rights instruments at the Inter-American system, as they are key elements of an effective social policy. In particular, the course emphasized the Protocol of San Salvador monitoring process, which is currently underway and States parties to it are to submit reports over the next two years in accordance with Article 19 of the Protocol.

The activities were run by distinguished speakers and lecturers from various international organizations and academic institutions, and the group of participants was composed of government officers from OAS member states with technical responsibilities for coordination of social policies and/or economic, social and cultural rights.