PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS THROUGH THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION MECHANISMS: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

17.09.2019

For those who work on topics: the right to health, the right to work, the right to education, the right to an adequate standard of living, socio-economic and cultural rights of vulnerable groups, etc.

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee invites you to participate in the conference “Protecting Economic, Social and Cultural Rights through the UN Human Rights Mechanisms: From Theory to Practice”, which will be held in Minsk on October 4-5, 2019.

In 2020, Belarus will submit a periodic report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Civil society organizations will also be able to submit their report.

The conference will facilitate an increase in the competencies of civil society representatives in protecting socio-economic rights, preparing and submitting reports to the UN treaty bodies, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in particular. It is also a good opportunity to exchange experience with the use of UN treaty bodies with colleagues from non-governmental organizations from various thematic sectors.

On the first day of the conference, participants will get acquainted with the topics related to the protection of socio-economic and cultural rights at the international level, including topics on the preparation and promotion of civil society reports to the UN bodies and procedures. The second day concentrates on group work. Participants will work with experts on the practical aspects of preparing and promoting a report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Lawyers, civic activists, representatives of organizations specializing in the protection of social, economic and cultural rights who wish to make use of the international treaty bodies instruments in their work are invited to participate in the conference. We also welcome interested representatives of the academic community and representatives of government bodies.

Details. To participate in the conference, please fill out the questionnaire until September 27, 2019 inclusive. The selection results will be announced on September 30. Housing and transportation costs will be covered for the nonresident participants.