UN Treaty Body Data Practices Project This project aims at ensuring that States produce and disclose better quality data on economic, social and cultural rights within the UN Treaty Bodies (UNTBs) system. This relates in particular with data disaggregated by specific groups, which can be used by civil society groups to counter systemic inequality. In 2016-17, members of the MWG conducted a research on concluding observations issued by 6 different UNTBs in relation to 64 countries in Latin America and Europe from 2006 to 2016. The research found that in their reviews of State parties, UNTBs have been exposing serious gaps in data collection and disaggregation, and called on States to establish the mechanisms for collecting data systematically and on a regular basis. However, from the research it seems unclear to what extent recommendations issued by UNTBs improve the quality of data reported by States. Closer scrutiny should be placed on monitoring States’ fulfillment of their legal requirements to provide data and addressing the observations made by UNTBs. With this aim in mind, MWG members will now engage with States and UNTBs, and particularly the UN Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights (UNCESCR) through the recently launched Follow-up procedure on concluding observations. The procedure provides a space for civil society to monitor the implementation of three concluding observations selected by CESCR, on which the State party is asked to report within 18 months. More concretely, WG members plan to develop ‘monitoring frameworks’ to assist States parties in producing relevant data in relation to the three recommendations selected, and CESCR in assessing the adequacy of this data. Efforts of MWG members will initially focus on countries where other ESCR-Net members are working at national level.
Community-led monitoring ProjectCommunity-led monitoring (or documentation) is a process through which community members collect, analyze and produce their own data documenting issues that affect their economic, social and cultural rights. This project aims at strengthening community-led monitoring practices among ESCR-Net members, and use community-led monitoring for amplifying the perspectives of grassroots communities, connecting across struggles and strengthening collective advocacy at different levels. Discussions on community-led monitoring began during the ESCR-Net Global Strategy Meeting (GSM) in November 2016, where several members stressed the fact that ‘who’ undertakes the monitoring of ESCR is just as important as exactly ‘what’ is being monitored – especially amidst the current global conditions of growing repression, impoverishment, inequality, corporate capture and environmental degradation. This recognition is also reflected in one of the Shared Objectives of ESCR-Net (developed by members during the GSM) to ‘strengthen connections between diverse struggles, challenging common global conditions and foregrounding the analysis and leadership of social movements’. On this basis, in September, 12 members of the Working Group participated to an online discussion and shared their own experience on community-led monitoring. From the discussion emerged a very rich and diverse panorama of projects and methodologies. For instance, some members discussed about how they use information and communications technologies (ICTs) for data collection, aggregation and visualization, while others shared about participatory approaches through which community members develop their own indicators. Many initiatives combine community-led data collection with advocacy, grassroots organizing and representation in local decision-making bodies with the goal of holding both public and private actors accountable for ESCR violations. Members participating to the discussion identified a number of topics for further learning and exchange, including: developing effective and sustainable indicators; linking monitoring with effective, community-driven advocacy; reflecting on different roles and expectations of community members on gathering data for addressing ESCR violations; effective use of ICTs in data-collection processes, for e.g. geo-mapped reporting, text-based reporting and participatory videos; and critically assessing existing opportunities for community-led monitoring to influence the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) process. Following the initial collective discussion, members have been sharing case studies documenting their work and learning. The case studies will be uploaded on a dedicated webpage on the Monitoring Working Group website, and their content will inform upcoming collective actions of the WG. For instance, challenges and opportunities identified through the case studies can serve as a basis for webinars and collective discussions on specific topics related to community-led monitoring.
NEW MEMBERSIn the last few months, we welcomed a few new members to the Monitoring Working Group! They are: Just Fair, UK: Just Fair monitors and advocates for economic and social rights in the UK by assessing the compliance with international human rights law, lobbying authorities and conducting training to empower groups and rights-holders. International Accountability Project, USA: IAP aims at creating new global policy and practice for development that respects people’s homes, environment and human rights. In relation to monitoring ESCR, IAP supports communities affected by development projects in various countries to collect and analyze data and use it for advocacy with local governments and international financial institutions. Al-Mezan, Occupied Palestinian Territory: Al-Mezan works to promote respect and protection for all human rights, particularly ESCR, in the Gaza Strip. Al-Mezan carries out thorough investigations on human rights violations in the Gaza Strip, and the data is used for litigation and advocacy led by Al-Mezan as well as by other stakeholders, including NGOs and UN agencies. GOVERNANCE UPDATESteering Committee meeting: Last August members of the Steering Committee of the Working Group met to discuss about the collective work of the WG. The role of the SC is to provide strategic guidance on the advancement of the WG action plan, potential collaborations with other WGs and emerging areas of work. The Monitoring Working Group builds persuasive evidence for ESCR advocacy, for the purpose of ensuring that States and other key actors act in accordance with their human rights obligations. It does so by facilitating mutual learning and knowledge-sharing, deepening critical analysis and coordinating collective action to advance the realization of human rights in practice.
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