Social and Economic Rights
Freedom, Respect, Equality, Dignity: Action
Freedom, Respect, Equality, Dignity: Action, the major NGO Report to the UN Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights regarding Australia’s implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was coordinated by the National Association of Community Legal Centres, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre and Kingsford Legal Centre. VCOSS was one of over 30 NGOs with specific human rights and subject matter expertise that contributed to the Report, and over 100 NGOs endorsed the report in whole or in part.
The Report was submitted to the Committee on 11 April 2008. It is intended to assist the Committee to prepare a List of Issues for Australia during the Pre-Sessional Working Group meeting from 19 to 23 May 2008. It is also intended to ensure that the Committee is equipped to engage in a rigorous and constructive dialogue with Australia when it is reviewed by the Committee in 2009.
You can download a copy of the report from the Human Rights Law Resource Centre website.
Australian Social and Economic Rights Project
In August 1999, VCOSS auspiced the Australian Social and Economic Rights Project (ASERP). ASERP involved over 50 NGOs across Australia in submitting a report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in May 2000. This report highlighted the failure of Australian Governments to respect, protect, promote and fulfil social, economic and cultural rights under international law.
The Australian government is a signatory to the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), in particular Article 11 which refers to "the right to an adequate standard of living", including the right to adequate housing. View the Australian Social and Economic Rights Project report.