United Nations: the Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted the concluding observations on the fifth report of Italy

On 9 October 2015, at the end of the 56th session held in Geneva from 21st September to 9th October, the UN Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) adopted the concluding observations on the fifth report presented by Italy. The report was reviewed on 25th September. The forth one was examined by the UN Committee in December 2004. 

The concluding observations contain a series of recommendations on the legislative measures and policies that have to be adopted by the Government in order to ensure the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) in the country.

The principal subjects of concern and recommendations issued by the Committee are: justiciability of the covenant; austerity measures; corruption; official development assistance; national human rights institution; non-discrimination legal framework; migrants, asylum seekers and refugees; discrimination against persons with disabilities; equality between men and women; unemployment; women’s employment; informal economy, just and favorable conditions of work; trade union rights; social security; violence against women and girls; poverty; right to housing; forced evictions; Roma living conditions; right to health; legal termination of pregnancy; obesity; school dropout; inclusive education; cultural rights.

The Committe requests Italy to submit its sixth periodic report by 31 October 2020. Italy ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1978 and the Optional Protocol in 2015.

CESCR is composed by 18 independent experts, in charge of monitoring the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) in 164 States parties.