A/HRC/28/31
35.
Participants identified national human rights institutions and civil society
organizations as important stakeholders in mainstreaming economic, social and cultural
rights. Reference was made to the level of engagement of civil society organizations and, in
particular, the Indonesian NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy, which
comprises 60 NGOs actively engaged with the Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights. The coalition submitted a parallel report on Indonesia to the Committee; it
also responded to the Committee’s list of issues and attended the Committee’s examination
of Indonesia in 2012. It also played an important role in the follow-up to the
recommendations at the national level by disseminating the recommendations in the local
languages, and holding seminars and workshops. The coalition also closely worked with the
United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the human rights of migrants and on the right to
adequate housing during their visits to Indonesia in 2008 and 2013 respectively.
2.
Challenges and lessons learned
36.
Participants shared the view that 21 years after the Vienna Declaration and
Programme of Action, which highlighted the importance of cooperation between the United
Nations and regional human rights mechanisms, such cooperation had not yet reached the
desired level.
37.
One of the main challenges to cooperation, highlighted across the regions, was
financial constraints. In that regard, participants noted the need to think more of an
“alliance of minds”, rather than an “alliance of structures”, as a cost-saving measure by
enhancing methods of mutually benefiting from expertise, such as regular exchange of
information on major thematic concerns. Reference was made to the bi-monthly OHCHR
ESCR Bulletin, which provides an update on economic, social and cultural rights.
38.
Referring to the “emergency doctrine” developed by the Committee on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights to address the consequences of the economic and financial crisis
in 2012, the participants felt that more concerted action by international and regional
mechanisms was needed to disseminate and promote the doctrine among governments,
international organizations and civil society.
39.
Participants noted the general lack of implementation of recommendations of
international and regional human rights mechanisms at the national level. Reference was
made to the need for a higher commitment by States parties as well as other national
stakeholders, including national human rights institutions. Concerns were expressed by
national human rights institutions and NGOs about the lack of openness on the part of
regional mechanisms, in general, and limited available access to engage with regional
mechanisms.
3.
Forms of cooperation
40.
Participants proposed several options for strengthening cooperation among
international and regional mechanisms, national human rights institutions and civil society:
• Strengthening general interaction and sharing of information on best practices and
expertise among mechanisms at the international, regional and national level;
• Promoting advocacy activities for the ratification of human rights conventions at the
international and regional level;
• Developing data and evidence on particular issues and highlighting areas that need
attention;
• Facilitating further engagement of national human rights institutions and civil
society groups with international and regional mechanisms, and reinforcing
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