NGOs in the Consideration of Periodic Reports to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights verifies the respect of the States parties concerning their obligations as laid down in the Covenant and the application of the rights and duties in question. In accordance with Articles 16 and 17, the States parties must submit every five years a report about the measures taken, the progress realized and the difficulties encountered in the implementation of the Covenant.

The NGOs may submit relevant information in writing prior to the consideration of a given State party’s report. The victims of the violations of rights protected by the Covenant can through them report about their situation. The NGOs can then transfer their information to the Committee.

African States Parties to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

As of 26 January 2010, the following African States had ratified the Covenant:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, The Congo, The Democratic Republic Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, The Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Swaziland, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, The Sudan, Tunisia, The United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe