ESCR-Net
Adjudication of ESCR
Dossier and Bibliography for
ESCR-Net’s International Strategy Meeting in Kenya
I.RESOURCE MATERIALS IN ENGLISH:
You will find two selections of documents below: (1) the dossier and (2) the bibliography. The dossier encompasses papers suggested for reading in preparation for the Meeting and you will find them on this CD. The bibliography encompasses complementary readings.
DOSSIER
- Langford, Malcolm (ed.). Social Rights Jurisprudence: Emerging Trends in Comparative and International Law,CambridgeUniversity Press, Forthcoming.
- International Commission of Jurists. “Courts and the Legal Enforcement of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,” (2008), 133 pages. (On file at ESCR-Net and included on this CD).
- International Commission of Jurists. “The Justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: National, Regional and International Experiences,” (2008) 5 pages. Available at: Last access on November 10, 2008.
- Baderin, Mashood A. / McCorquodale, Robert (eds.). Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Action, New York: Oxford University Press, (2007), 350 pages. Available at: Last access on November 20, 2008.
- Nolan, Aoife/ Porter, Bruce/ Langford, Malcolm. “The Justiciability of Social and Economic Rights: An Updated Appraisal,” Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, Working Paper, No. 15,(2007), 39 pages. Available at Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Liebenberg, Sandra / Goldblatt, Beth. “The Interrelationship Between Equality and Socio-Economic Rights Under South Africa’s Transformative Constitution,” South African Journal of Human Rights, 23, (2007),27 pages. (On file at ESCR-Net and included on this CD).
- Langford, Malcolm / Nolan, Aoife. "Litigating Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Legal Practitioners Dossier," Center on Housing Rights and Evictions, (2006), 301 pages. Available at access on April 8, 2008.
- Liebenberg, Sandra. “Adjudicating the Positive Duties Imposed by Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,” Interights Bulletin, Vol. 15, No. 3, (2006), 64 pages. Available at Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Roach, Kent / Budlender, Geoff. "Mandatory Relief and Supervisory Jurisdiction: When is it Appropriate, Just and Equitable,"South African Law Journal, Vol. 122, (2005), 27 pages. Available at Last access on April 1, 2008.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GENERAL
- Nolan, Aoife et al. “Leading Cases on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Summaries,” Center on Housing Rights and Evictions, (2007), 62 pages. Available at: Last access on October 16, 2008.
- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Report to ECOSOC on legal protection of economic, social and cultural rights, Substantive session of 2006, E/2006/86,” (June/2006), 16 pages. Available at: Last access on September 12, 2008.
- Melish, Tara J. “Rethinking the ‘Less as More’ Thesis: Supranational Litigation of Economic, Social And Cultural Rights in the Americas,” Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, Working Paper No. 2, (2006), 164 pages. Available at: Last access on October 16, 2008.
- International Council on Human Rights Policy. “Human Rights Standards: Learning from Experience,” (2006), 91 pages. Available at: Last access on September 11, 2008.
- Amnesty International. “Human rights for human dignity: A primer on economic, social and cultural rights,” (2005), 57 pages. Available at: . Last access on April 8, 2008.
- Liebenberg, Sandra. “The Value of Human Dignity in Interpreting Socio-Economic Rights.” South African Journal on Human Rights, Vol. 21, Part 1 (2005).
- Shivani Verma.“Justiciability of Economic Social and Cultural Rights Relevant Case Law,” International Council on Human Rights Policy, (2005), 82 pages. Available at: Last access on September 11, 2008.
- Squires, John / Langford, Malcolm / Thiele, Bret (eds.).The Road to a Remedy, Current Issues in the Litigation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Sydney: UNSW Press, (2005), 231 pages.
- International Council on Human Rights Policy.“Performance & Legitimacy: National human rights institutions, 2nd ed.,”(2004), 155 pages. Available at: Last access on September 11, 2008.
- International Human Rights Internship Program and Forum Asiafor Human Rights and Development, Circle of Rights. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Activism: A Training resource. (2000). Available at: Last access on April 8, 2008.
- International Human Rights Internship Program. “Ripple in Still Water. Reflections by Activists on Local- and National-Level Work on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,” (1997). Available at: Last access on November 20th, 2008.
DISABILITIES
- Harvard Project on Disability. “We Have Human Rights: A Human Rights Handbook for People with Developmental Disabilities,” (2008), 28 pages. Available at: Last access on September 23, 2008.
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. “From Exclusion to Equality, Realizing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Handbook for Parliamentarians on the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and its optional protocol,” (2007), 163 pages. Available at: Last access on September 12, 2008.
- Lord, Janet / Guernsey, Katherine / Balfe, Joelle / Karr, Valerie. “Human Rights.Yes! Action and Advocacy on Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” In:Flowers, Nancy (ed.), Human Rights Education Series,BlueLaw LLP and Disabled Peoples’ International, (2007), 318 pages. Available at: Last access on September 23, 2008.
HOUSING RIGHTS
- Nolan, Aoife. “Litigating Housing Rights: Experiences and Issues,”DublinUniversity Law Journal, Vol. 26 (2006). To have a copy, please write to .
- Liebenberg, Sandra. “Towards A Right to Alternative Accommodation? South Africa's Constitutional Jurisprudence on Evictions,”Housing and ESC Rights Law Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 3, (2005), 8 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Wesson, Murray.“Grootboom and Beyond: Assessing the Socio-Economic Jurisprudence of the South African Constitutional Court,”South African Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 20, No. 284, (2004), 25 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Ramanathan, Usha. “Illegality and Exclusion: Law in the Lives of Slumdwellers.” InternationalEnvironmentalLawResearchCenter, Working Paper, (2004), 22 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Budlender, Geoff. “The Justiciability of the Right to Housing: The South African Experience,” LegalResourcesCenter, (2003), 20 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Kthari, Jayna. “Right of Housing: Constitutional Perspective on India and South Africa,”Lawyers Collective, (2001), 15 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
RIGHT TO FOOD
- Narula, Smita. “The Right to Food: Holding Global Actors Accountable Under International Law,” New YorkUniversityCenter for Human Rights and Global Justice, Working Paper No. 7, (2006), 90 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Mahabel, Kamayani Bali. “Enforcing the Right to Food in India: The impact of social activism.” ESR Review, Vol 5, No. 1, (2004).
- Chiudhury, Arundhuti Roy. “Engaging people in right to food and work litigation,” PLA Notes, Vol. 43, (2002), 3 pages. Available at: access on April 1, 2008.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS
- Stavenhagen, Rodolfo. “Indigenous Peoples and Their Access to Human Rights,” International Council on Human Rights Policy, (2003), 17 pages. Available at: Last access on September 11, 2008.
- Scheinin, Martin. “The Right to Enjoy a Distinct Culture: Indigenous and Competing Uses of Land,” In: Orlin, Thodore/Rosas, Allan/ Scheinin, Martin (eds.).The Jurisprudence of Human Rights Law: A Comparative Interpretive Approach, Abo: Institute for Human Rights, AboAkademiUniversity, (2000), 244 pages.
RIGHT TO EDUCATION
- The InternationalCenter for Legal Protection of Human Rights. “Empowering the Next Generation: Securing the right to education in the new millenium,” Interights Bulletin, Vol.15, No. 4, (2007), 56 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Alston, Philip / Buta, Nehal. “Human Rights and Public Goods: Education as a Fundamental Right in India,”New YorkUniversity, Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, Working Paper No. 6 (2005), 35 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Kumar, C. Raj. “International Human Rights Perspectives on the Fundamental Right to Education: Integration of Human Rights and Human Development in the Indian Constitution,”Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law, Vol. 12, pp. 237-285, (Spring/2004).
RIGHT TO HEALTH
- Byrne, Iain.“Making the Right to Health a Reality: Legal Strategies for Effective Implementation,” Paper presented at Commonwealth Law Conference, London,(2005), 25 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Friedman, Steven/Mottiar, Shauna. “A Moral to the Tale: The Treatment Action Campaign and the Politics of HIV/AIDS,” Centre for Policy Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, (2004), 32 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Heywood, Mark.“Preventing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in South Africa; Background, Strategies and Outcomes of the Treatment Action Campaign Case against the Minister of Health," South African Journal On Human Rights, Vol. 19, No. 3, (2003), 38 pages. Available at Last access on April 1, 2008.
SOCIAL RIGHTS
- Van Rensburg, Linda Jansen / Lamarche, Lucie.“The Right to Social Security and Assistance,” In:Brand, Danie / Heyns, Christof (eds.), Socio-Economic Rights in South Africa, Pretoria: PULP, (2005), 40 pages: Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Langford, Malcolm. “Judging Social Rights,” Human Rights Tribune, Vol. 11, No. 3, (2005), 74 pages. Available at: Last access on October 21, 2008.
- Krause, Catarina/Schinin, Martin. “The Right Not to Be Discriminated Against: The Case of Social Security,” In: Orlin, Thodore / Rosas, Allan / Scheinin, Martin (eds.). The Jurisprudence of Human Rights Law: A Comparative Interpretive Approach, Abo: Institute for Human Rights, AboAkademiUniversity, (2000), 244 pages.
RIGHT TO WATER
- Center on Housing Rights and Evictions. “Legal Resources on the Right to Water and Sanitation: International and National Standards – 2nd Edition,”(2008), 330 pages. Available at: Last access on April 8, 2008.
- Fairstein, Carolina.“Legal Strategies and the right to Water in Argentina”In: Riedel, Eibe /Rothen, Peter(ed.),The Human Right to Water,Berlin: Berliner WissenschaftsVerlag, (2006).Briefing paper available at: Last access on October 21, 2008.
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
- van der Linde, Morné / Louw, Lorette. “Considering the Interpretation and Implementation of Article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights in Light of the SERAC Communication,”African Human Rights Law Journal, Vol.3,pp. 167-187, (2003). Available at: Last access on April 8, 2008.
EQUALITY
- Cahn, Claude. “Roma Rights, Racial Discrimination and ESC Rights,” Council of Europe, (August/2005). Available at: Last access on October 21, 2008.
- Porter, Bruce. “Beyond Andrews: Substantive Equality and Positive Obligations After Eldridge and Vriend,” Constitutional Forum, Vol. 9, No. 3,(1999), 12 pages. Available at: access on April 8, 2008.
MAXIMUM AVAILABLE RESOURCES
- Robertson, Robert. “Measuring State Compliance with the Obligation to Devote the ‘Maximum Available Resources’ to Realizing Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,”Human Rights Quarterly, vol. 16, p. 695, (1994).
REASONABLENESS
- Liebenberg, Sandra. “Enforcing Positive Socio-Economic Rights Claims: The South African Model of Reasonableness Review,” In Langford, Malcolm/ Thiele, Bret (eds.), Litigation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: The State of Play,Sydney: The University of New South Wales Press, (2005), 29 pages. Available at: Last access on October 21, 2008.
NON-STATE ACTORS
- Meeran,Richard. “Liability of Multinational Corporations: A Critical Stage,” (1999). Available at Last access on April 8, 2008.
- Jochnick, Chris. “Confronting the Impunity of Non-State Actors: New Fields for the Promotion of Human Rights,”Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 21, pp. 56-79, (1999). Available at Last access on April 8, 2008.
- Dubin, Laurence.“The Direct Application of Human Rights Standards to, and by, Transnational Corporations,” International Commission of Jurists: The Review, pp. 56-79, (1999).
UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION
- Redress and Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme. “Universal Jurisdiction in the European Union: Country Studies,” (2001), 45 pages. Available at: Last access on September 11, 2008.
- Wesley Gryk. “Universal Jurisdiction - Fighting Impunity: Developing an NGO Agenda,” International Council on Human Rights Policy Working Paper, (1999), 14 pages. Available at: Last access on September 11, 2008.
- International Council on Human Rights Policy. “Hard Cases: Bringing Human Rights Violators to Justice Abroad: A Guide to Universal Jurisdiction,” (1999), 72 pages. Available at: Last access on September 11, 2008.
EUROPEAN SYSTEM
- Churchill, Robin R./ Khaliq, Urfan.“The European Committee on Social Rights,”In: Langford, Malcolm (ed.). Social Rights Jurisprudence: Emerging Trends in International and Comparative Law.New York: Cambridge University Press, (2006), 704 pages.
- Langford, Malcolm.“Gathering Steam? A Review of Recent Cases from the European Committee on Social Rights,”Housing & ESC Rights Law Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 4-6, (2005). Available at Last access on April 8, 2008.
- Churchill, Robin R./ Khaliq, Urfan.“The Collective Complaints System of the European Social Charter: An Effective Mechanism for Ensuring Compliance with Economic and Social Rights?” European Journal of International Law. Vol. 15, n. 3, pp. 417-456, (2004).
AFRICAN SYSTEM
- Juma, Dan. “Access to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights:A Case of the Poacher turned Gamekeeper,” Essex Human Rights Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, (2007), 21 pages. Available at: Last access on October 9, 2008.
- Mbazira, Christopher.“The right to health and the nature of socio-economic rights obligations under the African Charter: The Purohit case,”Economic Self-Reliance Center Review, Vol.6, No.4, (2005).Available at Last access on April 8, 2008.
- Chirwa, Danwood. “Toward Revitalizing Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Africa: Social and Economic Rights Action Centre and the Center for Economic and Social Rights v. Nigeria,”Human Rights Brief, Vol.10, No.1, (2002). Available at
Last access on April 8, 2008.
- Odinkalu, Anselm Chidi. “Analysis of Paralysis or Paralysis by Analysis? Implementing Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,”Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 23, No.2, p. 327-369, (2001).
- Nakuta, John. “The Justiciability of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights in Namibia and the Role of the Non-Governmental Organizations,” Berlin: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, 12 pages. Available at: Last access on September 9, 2008.
ASIA REGION
- Rajagopal, Balakrishnan. “Pro-Human Rights but Anti-Poor? A Critical Evaluation of the Indian Supreme Court from a Social Movement Perspective,” Human Rights Review, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 157-187, (2007), 30 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
- Muralidhar, Shri. “Implementation of Court Orders in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: An Overview of the Experience of the Indian Judiciary,” International Environmental Law Research Centre, Working Paper, (2002), 12 pages. Available at: Last access on April 1, 2008.
OTHER BIBLIOGRAPHY
For a wide range of articles of various aspects of ESR litigation and adjudication at both the national and international levels, please see the following publications:
Housing & ESC Rights Law Quarterly, available at:
ESR Review, available at:
Red-DESC
LA EXIGIBILIDAD DE LOS DESC
Dossier y bibliografía para la Reunión Internacional sobre Estrategias de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales, y la Asamblea General de la Red-DESC
Nairobi, Kenia
II. DOCUMENTOS EN ESPANOL:
Usted encontrará dos selecciones de documentos abajo: (1) el dossier y (2) la bibliografía. El dossier trae artículos cuya lectura es sugerida en preparación para la reunión y que se encuentran en este CD. La bibliografía incluye un detalle pormenorizado de lecturas complementarias.
DOSSIER
- Abramovich, Víctor, “Acceso a la justicia y nuevas formas de participación en la esfera política”, Revista Estudios Socio-Jurídicos, Vol. 9, Nº. 1, (2007), págs. 9-33. Disponible en
- Organización de los Estados Americanos, Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. “El acceso a la justicia como garantía de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales. Estudio de los estándares fijados por el Sistema Interamericano de Derechos Humanos,” (2007), 106 paginas. Disponible en: Último acceso en 8 de abril de 2008.
- Yamin, Alicia (ed), Los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales en América Latina, Del invento a la herramienta,Plaza y Valdés, (2006). Disponible en Último acceso en 20 de noviembre de 2008.
- Krsticevic, Viviana, “La tutela de los derechos sociales en el sistema interamericano”, en Yamin, Alicia (ed.), Los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales en América Latina, Del invento a la herramienta,Plaza y Valdés, (2006). Disponible en Último acceso en 20 de noviembre de 2008.
- Abramovich, Víctor, Líneas de trabajo en derechos económicos,sociales y culturales: Herramientas y aliados, en Revista Sur, Número 2, Disponible en Último acceso en 20 de noviembre de 2008.
- Amnistía Internacional, “Derechos humanos para la dignidad humana: Una introducción a los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales,” (2005). Disponible en: Último acceso en 8 de abril de 2008.
- Piovesan, Flavia, Derechos sociales, económicos y culturales y derechos civiles y políticos, en Revista Sur, Número 1, Año 1, (2004). Disponible en Último acceso en 20 de noviembre de 2008.
- Plataforma Internacional de Derechos Humanos, Democracía y Desarrollo. Para exigir nuestros derechos. Manual de Exigibilidad en DESC, Bogotá, Antropos, (2004), Disponible en: Último acceso en 20 de noviembre de 2008.
BIBLIOGRAFIA
INFORMACIÓN DE CARÁCTER GENERAL
- Uprimny Yepes, Rodrigo, “La judicialización de la política en Colombia:
casos, potencialidades y riesgos”, en Revista Sur, Número 6 • Año 4 (2007). Disponible en
acceso en 20 de noviembre de 2008.
- Courtis, Christian (compilador), Ni in paso atrás, La prohibición de regresividad en materia de derechos sociales, CELS, CEDAL, Del Puerto, Buenos Aires, (2006).
- Liebenberg, Sandra. “Adjudicación de Derechos Sociales en la Constitución de Transformación Social de Sudáfrica,”Anuario de Derechos Humanos, No. 2, pp. 53-72, (2006). Disponible en Último acceso en 8 de abril de 2008.
- Ramírez, Sergio García. “Protección jurisdiccional internacional de los derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales,”Cuestiones Constitucionales, No. 9, (2003). Disponible en: Último acceso en 22 de Octubre de 2008.
- Institute of International Education. Círculo de Derechos: Una herramienta de entrenamiento para el activismo en defensa de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales.Programa Internacional de Becas en Derechos Humanos y Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, (2000). Disponible en: Último acceso en 8 de abril de 2008.
- Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos.“La justiciabilidad de los derechos económicos sociales y culturales: Un desafío impostergable”. San José: Costa Rica, (Diciembre/1999).
- Abramovich, Víctor / Courtis,Christian, Los derechos sociales como derechos exigibles,Trotta, (2002).
- Abramovich, Víctor / Courtis, Christian.“Hacia la exigibilidad de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales. Estándares internacionales y criterios de aplicación ante los tribunales locales”. En: Abregú, M / Courtis, C.,La aplicación de los tratados internacionales sobre derechos humanos por los tribunales locales. Buenos Aires: Ed. Del Puerto/Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, (1997).
DERECHO A LA VIVIENDA
- Morales, Diego / Kletzel, Gabriela / Litvachky, Paula / Zayat, Demian / Museri, Anabella / Arcidiácono, Pilar y Royo, Laura. “El acceso a la justicia y el papel de la defensa pública en la promoción de derechos sociales. Una mirada sobre el derecho a la vivienda en la ciudad de Buenos Aires.” Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, Informe Anual 2008, pp. 327-364, (2008). Disponible en: Último acceso en 22 de Octubre de 2008.
- Tedeschi, Sebastián, (ed.). “El derecho a la vivienda a diez años de la reforma de la Constitución”, enLa implementación de los Tratados sobre Derechos Humanos en el Ámbito Local: La experiencia de una década, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), del Puerto, Buenos Aires, (2006).
14. Christian Courtis / Abramovich,Víctor, “La justiciabilidad del derecho a la vivienda en la reciente jurisprudencia sudafricana”, Jueces para la democracia, ISSN 1133-0627, Nº 40, 2001, pags. 71-
75, disponible en
SISTEMA INTERAMERICANO
- Abramovich, Víctor / Rossi,Julieta, “La tutela de los derechos económicos, sociales y culturales en el artículo 26 de la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos”, Revista Estudios Socio-Jurídicos, Vol. 9, Nº. 1, 2007, pags. 34-53. Disponible en acceso en 20 de noviembre de 2008.
- Dulitzky, Ariel E. “El Principio de Igualdad y No Discriminación. Claroscuros de la Jurisprudencia Interamericana,” Centro de Derechos Humanos, Facultad de Derecho, Universidad de Chile, Anuario Derechos Humanos 2007, pp. 15-32, (2007). Disponible en Último acceso en 8 de abril de 2008.
- Organización de los Estados Americanos Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. "Lineamientos para la Elaboración de Indicadores de Progreso en Materia de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales,” (2007), 56 páginas. Disponible en: Último acceso en 15 de octubre de 2008.
- Melish, Tara, “El litigio supranacional de los derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales'“Avances y retrocesos en el sistema interamericano”, (2006), disponible en
- Melo, Mario.“Últimos avances en la justiciabilidad de los derechos indígenas en el Sistema Interamericano de Derechos Humanos”, en Revista Sur, Número 3, Año 2, (2005). Disponible en
- Dulitzky, Ariel. “Jurisprudencia y práctica del Sistema Interamericano de Protección de los Derechos Humanos relativa a los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y sus miembros,” Presentado en: Seminario Adjudicating Culture, Politicizing Law: Legal Strategies for Black and Indigenous Land Rights Struggles in the Americas, The University of Texas at Austin (Abril/2003), 33 páginas. Disponible en: Último acceso en 8 de abril de 2008.
- Bonilla, Carlos R. Urquilla.“Los Derechos Económicos, Culturales y Sociales en el contexto de la Reforma al Sistema Interamericano de protección de los Derechos Humanos,”Costa Rica: Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, (2000). Disponible en: en contexto de la reforma al sidh.htm. Último acceso en 8 de abril de 2008.
- Abramovich, Víctor. “Los Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales en la denuncia ante la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos,”Costa Rica: Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, (1997). Disponible en: Último acceso en 8 de abril de 2008.
DERECHO A LA SALUD