Publications on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

HURICAP has published several publications on ESC rights. The newer publication, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Practice – Handbook for Civil Society Organizations and Human Rights Defenders, was developed with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. This publication is comprised of two parts: Part I focuses on understanding ESC Rights, while Part II concentrates on taking action on ESC rights. It presents a range of concepts, standards and tools to support readers in demanding the realization of ESC rights, from theory to practice. This publication is available in English and Arabic.

The other publications on ESC rights are the Haki Zetu series, which is comprised of a main book (Parts I & II) and several thematic booklets. These publications were developed with a focus on African audiences and serve as practical toolkits for non-governmental and community-based organizations working with communities on economic, social and cultural rights. These publications are available in English and French.

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Practice – Handbook for Civil Society Organizations and Human Rights Defenders

This handbook aims to introduce its users to a range of concepts, standards, and planning tools to support and enhance their abilities to demand the realization of economic, social and cultural rights.

Part I: Understanding ESC Rights

Part I focuses on ESC rights, describing what these rights are (and are not), analysing state obligations under international and regional law, the role of UN and regional human rights mechanisms, and the roles of different actors such as governments and NGOs in realizing ESC rights. It includes a brief elaboration of selected ESC rights and considers them in relation to various marginalized and/or vulnerable groups of people. Part I also deals with the realization of ESC rights during armed conflict and discusses the role of non-state actors. It ends with a discussion of other frameworks that are important for the realization of ESC rights, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Part II: Taking Action on ESC Rights

Part II links theory to practice. It introduces basic concepts and planning tools for ESC rights advocacy, as well as tools for developing a plan of action, including problem analysis, mapping the internal and external environment, and a planning matrix. Part II also discusses how to monitor and document ESC rights and reflects on a number of methods used for advocacy, including litigation, campaigning and mobilization, as well as engaging officials and non-state actors. Part II ends with measures for ensuring impact.

Haki Zetu: ESC Rights in Practice

The Haki Zetu handbook series is a practical toolkit for local NGOs and CBOs working with communities to realize their economic, social and cultural rights. It aims to support activists and professionals who use a rights-based approach to tackle economic and social problems.

These handbooks provide information and tools with which local activists and NGO/CBO workers can raise awareness, monitor and advocate for an improved access to economic, social and cultural rights.

The series is developed in consultation with an advisory committee of experts and ESCR practitioners in Africa. The Main Book is co-published with ACORD (Pan-Africa), Hakijamii Economic and Social Rights Centre (Kenya), Uganda Debt Network (Uganda), and Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (Liberia).

The separate additional booklets contain sections on understanding the situation and the right itself (for example, how it is enshrined in treaties and laws), and on actions to realize it. They also contain appendices with references to international laws and standards, sources and resources, contacts of expert institutions and NGOs, and other references. Booklets on specific rights can only be used in conjunction with the Main Book.

Haki Zetu | Main Book Part I & II

The Haki Zetu Main Book Part I provides basic information about human rights, ESC rights, obligations of states and non-state actors and some current efforts to improve access to ESC rights.

Part II provides a step-by-step plan for working on ESC rights, including engaging with communities, gathering information, monitoring and engaging with government and non-state actors, regional and international actors.

Haki Zetu | The Right to Adequate Housing

The Housing booklet assists NGOs and CBOs to monitor laws and policies around housing and shelter, to monitor evictions, and slum upgrading projects.

Haki Zetu | The Right to Adequate Food

The Food booklet explains the right to access land and water, trade, nutrition, and the right to be free from hunger. Tools to monitor access to adequate food, productive land and resources are included as well as the impact of agribusiness and social cash transfers. This booklet is co-published with FIAN.

Haki Zetu | The Right to Adequate Water and Sanitation

The Water and Sanitation booklet addresses the right to water for drinking, cooking and washing, and the right to sanitation and hygiene, with specific attention to informal settlements and women’s rights. This booklet is co-published with COHRE.

Haki Zetu | The Right to Health

The Health booklet explains about health systems, facilities, goods and services, sexual and reproductive health rights, mental health, healthy natural and workplace environments, prevention, treatment and control of diseases. It gives guidelines for awareness-raising, monitoring facilities, goods and services and monitoring underlying determinants. It also includes specific actions for sub-topics.

Haki Zetu | The Right to Education

The Education booklet assists NGOs and community-based organizations to monitor the right to free and compulsory primary education including its availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability of education (the 4As), standards of teaching and school governance. This booklet is co-published with ActionAid’s Right to Education project.

Haki Zetu | The Right to Work and Livelihoods

This booklet deals with the right to work. This includes free choice of work – and the right to be protected from forced labor, debt bondage and child labor. It also encompasses protection against unemployment and promotion of “decent work”, the right to form and join trade unions, cooperatives or other workers’ associations, and just and favorable conditions of work. As a large part of the population on the African continent is self-employed or working in the informal sector, the booklet defines work as a means of livelihood, and addresses ways informal workers can claim protection from deprivation of their means of livelihood as well as rights to organize and to just and favorable conditions of work.

Haki Zetu | Land and Human Rights

Human rights are often trampled upon in land conflicts, “land grabbing” and women’s limited access to land. Though land rights are not enshrined in human rights treaties, human rights standards can be called upon to address them. This booklet Indicates which rights and mechanisms are available, and how local activists and organizations can defend and monitor them as well as advocate, campaign and seek redress for victims.