The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) commits all State parties to protect the economic, social and cultural rights of all individuals. It was adopted in 1966 and entered into force in 1976. The UK ratified ICESCR on 20 May 1976.
ICESCR protects the right to:
- an adequate standard of living;
- highest attainable standard of physical and mental health;
- education;
- social security;
- work and fair treatment at work.
It sets out the principle of “progressive realisation” which underpins the whole Covenant.
ICESCR, when combined with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), makes up what is referred to as the International Bill of Human Rights. There are currently 26 General Comments which clarify the scope and content of ICESCR’s provisions.
State parties are obliged to produce reports to the Committee which outline progress and legislative, judicial and policy measures taken to fulfil their obligations under the Convention. Each State is expected to submit a report approximately two years after consenting to the Convention and then every five years thereafter, or otherwise as directed by the Committee.
The UK completed its most recent review cycle in 2025
As part of the recent review cycle, the UK government submitted its 7th periodic report in June 2022. The Scottish Government also submitted a Position Statement in November 2022, setting out action taken in devolved areas to implement ICESCR in Scotland.
The Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights produced a List of Issues in March 2023 to inform the review. The UK Government replied to the List of Issues in August 2024 and an Interactive Dialogue was held in Geneva in February 2025. The Committee published its Concluding Observations in March 2025.
The state is required to produce follow-up information on its implementation of certain key recommendations within 24 months and it’s next full state report is due in March 2030.
NHRI Engagement
In order to support the UK review of ICESCR, the Commission undertakes a number of activities, including:
- Capacity building and consultation with Civil Society to prepare an NHRI report to inform the List of Issues.
- Submission of a parallel report (in Word, PDF, or Easy Read format) in January 2025 to inform the review.
- Provide oral evidence to the Committee for the List of Issues and as part of UK State Review
- Meet with the Committee members and/or country rapporteur
- Meet the UK and Scottish Government representatives before and after the review in Geneva.
- Attend evidence sessions in the Scottish Parliament on implementation of the Concluding Observations.
- Monitor the implementation of recommendations between cycles.
Civil Society Engagement
Civil society has the potential to engage with this treaty in a number of ways:
- Submitting written information to the Committee
- Submitting an alternative report
- Providing information for the list of issues
- Attending Sessions and Making Oral Submissions to the Committee
There was strong civil society representation at the most recent review.
Links
- The ratification of international Human Rights treaties; the reporting cycles and all the documents related to a reporting cycle
- The webpage of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
- Details of future and past Sessions of the Committee
- Details on engagement with the Committee
- Current Committee members
- The UN Handbook for Civil Society
- Guidelines for State reporting for ICESCR (civil society reports should resemble the structure of State reports)
- Concluding Observations from all treaty reviews can be searched via the Universal Human Rights Index.