During the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 2008, UN member states agreed on an additional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The protocol, which allows for an international complaint mechanism in the UN, is a big step.

Deal worthless without support
According to Amnesty International Norway, a deal is still worthless without support. States, including Norway, have to actively join the protocol by signing and ratification.

To date, 32 countries signed the Optional Protocol, but a complaints scheme will be established in the UN only after 10 countries have ratified the additional protocol. Norwegian authorities have been able to sign the Optional Protocol since 24 September last year, which is exactly in one year. But nothing has happened.

The report “Human Rights in the Norwegian foreign and development policy” from June 2009 printed by Government shows that they do not want interference from the UN in Norway distribution policy. This statement has since been moderated, and Norway has promised the UN that they will conduct a study of the impact it will have for Norway to sign and ratify the new protocol. In any case, nothing has happened.

Norway weakens UN
We will give credit to the Norwegian authorities for pushing to strengthen human rights roots under the UN Summit on Millennium goals in New York recently.

But it is of equal importance to give people who live in countries that have neither the ability nor the will to safeguard their rights the opportunity to be heard and to get redress when their rights are violated. By giving priority to national self-determination before the United Nations human rights system, Norway is contributing to undermining the UN.

When it comes to marginalized individuals and groups in Norway who feel that they are exposed to poverty-related human rights violations, it is questionable if the Norwegian authorities are afraid to give them an opportunity to address the United Nations for help. It helps a little with the big words on the importance of human rights in the world if you do not take these rights seriously here at home.

Petition
On 24 September 2010, Amnesty International Norway and FIAN Norway – with support from more than 30 other organizations – signed a petition, demanding Norway as soon as possible to join the Optional Protocol to the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural rights.

In many countries such as Germany, Norway, Sweden, The Philippines, Nepal, and Mexico, signature campaigns and public events will take place during the week in order to inform on the Optional Protocol and to stimulate ratifications.

Background information
10 Human Rights Protected by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:

1. be free from discrimination
2. work
3. just working conditions
4. adequate housing
5. food
6. water
7. health
8. social security
9. protection of the family and,
10. education

– The Protocol will invigorate the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
– The Protocol will provide an opportunity for people to claim their rights under this treaty. Their complaints would be heard in front of an independent, international panel of experts who would determine whether their rights had been upheld.
– The Protocol will help governments identify gaps in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights in the country.
– The Protocol will create an incentive for all government officials to listen to people living in poverty and to ensure that no groups are left out from efforts at social and economic development.

FIAN Norway commends Ecuador and Mongolia for ratifying the Protocol. The organisation also commend the 30 other countries who signed the Protocol and urge them and other countries of the world to ratify it and encourage other countries to do so, ensuring that at least 10 countries become party to the Protocol by 10 December 2010 in order to bring the treaty into force.

HRH Bergen, based on Amnesty International Norway and FIAN Norway information.