«Il n‘y a pas un monde développé et un monde sous-développé, mais un seul monde mal développé»
CETIM focuses on the promotion and implementation of economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR). They are the backbone of human rights and a powerful tool for achieving a self determinated development model by peoples. This is particularly true for the most vulnerable and marginalised populations. Properly implemented, these rights contribute to the respect for human dignity and to the achievement of social justice. On the contrary, the violation of any of them can jeopardise the enjoyment of all the others.
The universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights are enshrined in international instruments. Yet, we are still a long way from their effective implementation for all, and ESCR are among the worst off. Indeed, the basic needs (food, water, health, housing, education) of a third of humanity are still not being met. In some respects, the situation has even deteriorated, including in the countries of the North. This is due to the fact that the policies adopted at economic level accentuate ESCR violations and cause
– increased poverty
– growing inequality across the world
– multiple crises (political, economic, financial, environmental, social and cultural).
By definition, human rights are designed to protect citizens from the arbitrary actions of the most powerful and their governments
The international health crisis linked to COVID-19 has only exacerbated this situation. It has also shown the importance of implementing public policies based on ESCR. In particular, the right to health, the right to housing, the right to food, the right to water, the right to work, the right to education and the right to social security.
But for human rights to be better respected, they must be known, they must be demanded and they must be enforced. However, victims are often unaware of their rights and of the mechanisms available to them for appealing (at national, regional or international level). States, which have an obligation to inform and educate their citizens about human rights, often fail in their duties.
The role played by civil society organisations and social movements in human rights education and training is therefore crucial
– to denounce human rights violations
– to contribute to the implementation of existing standards.
1. From its earliest origins, western culture, has conceived the relationship between man and nature as conflictual and oscillating between two poles1. On the one hand, nature is seen as a powerful, spontaneous and creative force, the origin of life and all matter, determining birth and death, and imposing its laws on human destiny. On […]
Continue readingIf the recommendations and resolutions contained in the most recent version of the “technically reviewed text” (A/CONF.211/PC/WG.2/CRP.2 of 17 March 2009), submitted for discussion at the Durban II meeting, are being implemented practically everywhere, this represents, surely, a considerable step forward in regard to the daily practices experienced in particular by hundreds of thousands of […]
Continue reading1. The choice of title for this paper is deliberate. For the last twenty years or so the Western Powers which make up the NATO alliance have arrogantly set themselves up as representatives of the “International Community” and in so doing have even marginalized the United Nations, the only institution truly qualified to perform this […]
Continue readingAccess the Critical Report in PDF Presentation In the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 2000, States made a commitment to halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of people with no access to safe drinking water and to sanitation. Access to safe drinking water and to sanitation should therefore be an absolute priority for the […]
Continue readingAccess the Critical Report in PDF Presentation Following the 1986-1987 scandals triggered by the dumping of toxic waste in African countries and the dramatic effects of this dumping on both the environment and the health of the local populations, the African governments, under the aegis of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), unilaterally condemned it, […]
Continue reading
