The United Kingdom (UK)’s controversial support for commercial, low-cost private schools in developing countries has been questioned by a UN Committee on children’s rights.(1) The UK Department for International Development’s support for the for-profit primary and pre-primary school chain, Bridge International Academies (BIA) was singled out as a particular concern.
The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a landmark resolution on the protection of human rights defenders working to promote economic, social and cultural rights by a resounding vote.
The Norwegian-led resolution, developed in close consultation with civil society and sponsored by over 60 States from all regions, was adopted by a vote of 33 Member States of the Human Rights Council to just 6 against. Eight States in the 47-seat Council abstained.
ISER invites submission of articles for the 6th Issue of the Economic and Social Rights Advocacy (ESRA) Brief to be published in April 2016. The theme for this issue is "Realizing Social and Economic Rights through Gender Budgeting"
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are often ignored by states and it is gratifying to see the African Union spotlight the State’s obligations to respect, protect and fulfill these rights particularly education and health. The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights places considerable emphasis on social economic rights and their realisation in Africa. These recommendations are a powerful call to prioritise the realization of these often ignored rights.
This report contains the Concluding Observations and Recommendations from the review of Uganda by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPRs) that happened during the 56th Session in Banjul in April 2015.
As ESCRs advocates, we have reason to celebrate as we made some good scores. For example under the right to health, the Commission recommends that the " State expedites the process for the enactment of the Draft Bill on the National Insurance Scheme which aims at addressing the high out-of-pocket spending and improve equity in health care service" and review and revise the HIV AIDS Prevention and Control Act 2014 to ensure that it fully conforms with Uganda's regional and international human rights obligations. Under the Right to Education, the Commission calls on the State to "increase investment in public education to match the increasing enrolment, and ensure quality of, to avoid forcing parents to resort to private schools, as well as to regulate the quality of education being provided by private schools".
Parliament passes the National Budget Framework Paper , but allocations to Education and health still remain far below the required international standards.
During this session, the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) is among the eight (8)NGOs granted Observer Status.
The Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability (UCCA), a newly established civil society consortium on corporate accountability aimed to enhance accountability by corporations, States, international finance institutions and development partners for violations or abuses of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCRs) is seeking to fill the vacancy of Coordinator