E UNITED NATIONS Economic and Social Distr. Council E/C,12/1998/25, CESCR General comment 10 14 December 1998 Original: ENGLISH The role of national human rights institutions in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights : . 14/12/98. E/C.12/1998/25, CESCR General comment 10. (General Comments) Convention Abbreviation: COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, AND CULTURAL RIGHTS public interest or other human rights “advocates”, to “defensores del pueblo”. In many cases, the institution has been established by the Government, enjoys an important degree of autonomy from the executive and the legislature, takes full account of international human rights standards which are applicable to the country concerned, and is mandated to perform various activities designed to promote and protect human rights. Such institutions have been established in States with widely differing legal cultures and regardless of their economic situation. CESCR SOCIAL Nineteenth session Geneva, 16 November-4 December 1998 Agenda item 3 SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES ARISING IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS General comment No, 10: The role national of human rights institutions in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights * and ensuring 1. Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Covenant obligates each State party “to take steps ... with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the [Covenant] Committee rights ... by all appropriate means”. The notes that one such means, through which important steps can be taken, is the work of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. In recent years there has been a proliferation of these institutions and the trend has been strongly encouraged by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human the United High Commissioner Rights Nations has established assist and encourage institutions. a Rights. The Office of major for Human programme * human offices, Adopted at the 51st meeting (19th session), on 1 December 1998. to States in relation to national 2, These institutions range from national rights commissions through Ombudsman 3. The Committee notes that national institutions have a potentially crucial role to play in promoting the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights. Unfortunately, this role has too often either not been accorded to the institution or has been neglected or given a low priority by it. It is therefore essential that full attention be given to economic, social and cultural rights in all of the relevant activities of these institutions. The following list is indicative of the types of activities that can be, and in some instances already have been, undertaken by national institutions in relation to these rights: (a) The promotion of educational and information programmes designed to enhance awareness and understanding of economic, social and cultural rights, both within the population at large and among particular groups such as the public service, the judiciary, the private sector and the labour movement; (b) The scrutinizing of existing laws and administrative acts, as well as draft bills and other proposals, to ensure that they are consistent with the requirements of the International Cavenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; GENERAL COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS 29