REDESCA presents its 2021 annual report on the situation of ESCER in the region

June 15, 2022

V Informe Anual 2021

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Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights

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Washington, D.C. – The Office of the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (SRESCER) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) presents its Fifth Annual Report 2021, which compiles the most relevant facts related to the situation of Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (ESCER) in the hemisphere. The report reports on the main developments, as well as the challenges and challenges identified during the period. Based on its findings, it also seeks to engage in a constructive dialogue with the OAS member states regarding the contents of the report.

"Our 2021 report makes an emphatic call to put the economy at the service of people and nature in the most unequal region on the planet," said Soledad García Muñoz, Special Rapporteur at the time of publication of the report. "The report is the result of an arduous effort by the REDESCA's team, which we dedicate especially to those who are in the front line of defense of ESCER, to the admirable dedication of the workers of the healthcare, and of education, as well as of those who defend the environment."

In light of the follow-up carried out during the year on the situation of ESCERs in the 35 OAS member states and the work carried out by the mandate in relation to all the working mechanisms of the IACHR (case system, monitoring, promotion, and technical assistance), on the one hand, the Annual Report gives an account of the situation of ESCER in the member states, as well as the main activities and work of the mandate, also synthesizing the main trends and challenges for the guarantee of ESCER in the hemisphere.

With support in the information received through the sources listed in Article 59.5 of the IACHR's Rules of Procedure, REDESCA has developed its work of regional monitoring of ESCER, reporting on this in the Chapter entitled "Situation of Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights in the Hemisphere." It analyzes the measures that States have taken for the protection and guarantee of ESCER in different contexts, taking into account the strategic lines of the mandate and the normative framework of the inter-American system, namely: Right to Health and its social determinants: Pandemic and food crisis; Climate Emergency and Human Right to Water and Human Mobility and ESCER; labour and trade union rights; business and human rights; right to education, science and technology: academic freedom and university autonomy; and, finally, fiscal, economic and human rights policies.

On the other hand, in accordance with the provisions of its Strategic Agenda and within the framework of its annual planning, the Chapter on "Trends on ESCER in the light of the 2021 Srescer Report" highlights the main challenges around three of the aforementioned strategic lines, specifically: Right to Health and Pandemic; Climate emergency and Human Right to Water; Human Mobility and ESCER.

REDESCA thanks both States and civil society organizations, academia and other actors for the information provided throughout 2021, which has contributed to the preparation of this annual report. Likewise, REDESCA hopes that this document can be useful for all people and institutions that seek to analyze and deepen the great conjunctural and structural challenges that affect the full guarantee of ESCER in the hemisphere.

To access the full V Annual Report 2021, click here.

REDESCA is an autonomous Office of the IACHR, specially created to support the Commission in fulfilling its mandate to promote and protect economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights in the Americas.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate arises from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is composed of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. RD136/22

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