04 August 2016

We, the undersigned, are national, regional and international civil society organisations, networks and alliances working in South East Asian countries, and participants of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) 2016.

As we near the seventh anniversary of the opening for signature, ratification and accession of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on 24 September 2016, we the undersigned NGOs and individuals urge you to sign and ratify or accede to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its Protocol and fully implement it without delay.

The ICESCR is the main treaty in the United Nations human rights system to address peoples’ economic, social and cultural rights. It creates legally binding international obligations on those States that have ratified or acceded to it. As of August 2010, 160 countries around the world are Party to the ICESCR.

The Protocol creates a mechanism through which individuals and groups, whose human rights such as the rights to adequate housing, food, water, health, work, social security and education have been violated, and who have not been able to achieve justice in their own countries, can present a case before a UN body and seek justice.  

We also urge you to make a declaration, when you become a party to the Protocol, recognizing the competence of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to undertake inquiry and interstate procedures under this Protocol. 

At this key moment for ESC rights, when the international community has adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, we call on you to show leadership and join those states that have declared their commitment to ensuring everyone enjoys all human rights and no one is left behind. By becoming a party to the Covenant and the Protocol, your Government can demonstrate its commitment to protecting human rights and eradicating poverty at home and internationally. This will also send an important signal to other states that it is now time to ensure that everybody, including the marginalised and disadvantaged, is given a meaningful voice and is able to identify and seek effective remedies to the rights violations that perpetuate poverty and social exclusion.

The Covenant and the Protocol are much needed and concrete step to rectify the gaps in international protection for victims of violations of economic, social and cultural rights. We hope that you will act to strengthen the recognition and implementation of these rights and access to justice for all victims.

We have gathered considerable amount of support as many members of CSOs endorsed the ratification campaign through signature during the APF. However, in order to garner continuing support from people in the ASEAN region who aim to see enhanced protection for economic and social rights, we are also launching a signature campaign electronically. Below are some of the names of those who have signed our campaign during the ASEAN People's Forum:

1.    Ye Lin Mim, Myanmar
2.    Sami, Timor Leste
3.    Simao, Timor Leste
4.    Joshua Cooper, Hawaiian Institute of Human Rights, USA
5.    Hien Nao, Vietnam and USA
6.    Him Yun, Cambodia
7.    Jean, Singapore
8.    Shook, Malaysia
9.    Raxiey, Philippines
10. Professor Aurora de Dios
11. Abrao Dedung, Timor Leste
12. Jorio, Timor Leste Disability Association 
13. Ashleigh Montgomery, USA
14. Girlie Amarillo, Philippines 
15. Chizuko Suzuki, Japan
16. Ha, Vietnam 
17. Sabina Seac, Timor Leste
18. Sheena Kanwar, Home Singapore
19. Jean Chong, ASEAN SOGIE Causus
20. Wathshlah Naidu, Malaysia.
21. Laura Dejesus, Timor Leste.