Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Fift y- fourth session
23 February–6 March 2015
Item 1 of the provisional agenda
Adoption of the agenda
Provisional agenda and annotations
Note by the Secretary-General
1.The fifty-fourth session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, established in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1985/17, will be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva (Palais Wilson) from 23 February to 6 March 2015. The first meeting will be convened on Monday, 23 February at 10 a.m.
2.The attached provisional agenda and annotations for the fifty-fourth session of the Committee have been prepared by the Secretary-General in accordance with rule 4 of the rules of procedure of the Committee.
3.The attention of States parties is drawn, in particular, to the annotations to item 6, containing the list of reports that will be before the Committee at its fifty-fourth and future sessions.
Provisional agenda
Election of Chairperson and other officers of the Committee.
Adoption of the agenda.
Organization of work.
Substantive issues arising in the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Follow-up to the consideration of reports under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant.
Relations with United Nations organs and other treaty bodies.
Consideration of reports:
(a)Reports submitted by States parties in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant;
(b)Reports submitted by specialized agencies in accordance with article 18 of the Covenant.
Submission of reports by States parties in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant.
Formulation of suggestions and recommendations of a general nature based on the consideration of reports submitted by States parties to the Covenant and by the specialized agencies.
Consideration of communications under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant.
Miscellaneous matters.
Annotations
Election of Chairperson and other officers of the Committee
In accordance with rule 14 of its rules of procedure, the Committee shall elect from among its members a Chairperson, three Vice-Chairpersons and a Rapporteur. The officers of the Committee shall be elected for a term of two years (rule 15). Under rule 53 of the rules of procedure, elections shall be held by secret ballot, unless the Committee decides otherwise in the case of an election to fill a place for which there is only one candidate.
Adoption of the agenda
Under rule 5 of the Committee’s rules of procedure, the first item on the agenda of any session shall be the adoption of the agenda, except when the election of officers is required under rule 14. In accordance with rule 6, the Committee may revise the agenda during a session and may, as appropriate, add, delete or defer items.
Organization of work
In accordance with rule 8 of its rules of procedure, at the beginning of each session, the Committee shall consider appropriate organizational matters, including its meetings schedule. The attention of States parties is drawn to the tentative programme of work for the session set out in the present document, which was prepared by the Secretary-General in consultation with the Chairperson of the Committee in accordance with established practice.
Substantive issues arising in the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
In accordance with rule 65 of its rules of procedure, the Committee may prepare general comments based on the various articles and provisions of the Covenant with a view to assisting States parties in fulfilling their reporting obligations. The Committee decided at its fourteenth session (28 April–17 May 1996) that, as from its fifteenth session its discussions relating to the implementation of the Covenant (days of general discussion, consideration and adoption of general comments, methods of work, submissions by non-governmental organizations, etc.), would be conducted under this agenda item.
During the session, the Committee will discuss methods of work, general comments under preparation and other matters.
Follow-up to the consideration of reports under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant
The Committee has been discussing follow-up consistently at its sessions, and the issue of follow-up to previous concluding observations is included as an item for discussion during dialogues with delegations, and during the consideration of subsequent periodic reports and of working methods.
Relations with United Nations organs and other treaty bodies
Under this agenda item, the Committee will continue to consider, as required, matters arising from the Meetings of Chairpersons of Human Rights Treaty Bodies, the most recent of which was held from 23 to 27 June 2014. Documentation relating to that meeting is being made available to Committee members. Members will also be informed of activities undertaken by other treaty bodies where relevant to their work.
Consideration of reports
(a)Reports submitted by States parties in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant
In accordance with rule 61, paragraph 2, of its rules of procedure, the Committee shall normally consider the reports submitted by States parties under article 16 of the Covenant in the order in which they have been received by the Secretary-General. Representatives of the reporting States are entitled to be present at the meetings of the Committee when their reports are examined. Such representatives should be able to make statements on the reports submitted by their governments and reply to questions which may be put to them by the members of the Committee.
In accordance with rule 62, paragraph 2, of the Committee’s rules of procedure, the Secretary-General has informed the States parties, through notes verbales, of the opening date and duration of the fifty-fourth session of the Committee, and invited them to send representatives to attend the meetings of the Committee at which their reports would be considered. A tentative timetable for consideration of those reports has been prepared by the Secretary-General in consultation with the Chairperson of the Committee.
As at 11 December 2014, 30 reports as listed below had been received by the Secretary-General and were pending consideration by the Committee. Reports of the States parties which are tentatively scheduled for consideration at the fifty-fourth (23 February–6 March 2015), fifty-fifth (1–19 June 2015) and fifty-sixth session (21 September–9 October 2015) of the Committee are set out in the last columns of the tables that follow. The reports to be scheduled for consideration by the Committee at its fifty-seventh and subsequent sessions, subject to approval by the Committee, will be the next seven to eight reports to be received by the Committee, generally in chronological order of receipt.
The following tables do not include States parties that were requested to submit reports by a specific deadline, failing which the Committee would proceed to examine the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights in their territories in the absence of a report.
|
Initial reports |
Symbol |
Date received |
Date due |
Scheduled for consideration at |
|
1. Burundi |
E/C.12/BDI/1 |
16 Jan. 2013 |
30 June 1992 |
Fifty-sixth session |
|
2. Gambia |
E/C.12/GMB/1 |
9 May 2012 |
30 June 1990 |
Fifty-fourth session |
|
3. Namibia |
E/C.12/NAM/1 |
13 Oct. 2014 |
30 June 1997 |
|
|
4. Thailand (initial and second periodic reports) |
E/C.12/THA/1-2 |
22 Aug. 2012 |
30 June 2002 |
Fifty-fifth session |
|
5. Uganda |
E/C.12/UGA/1 |
6 Dec. 2012 |
30 June 1990 |
Fifty-fifth session |
|
Second periodic reports |
Symbol |
Date received |
Date due |
Scheduled for consideration at |
|
6. Greece |
E/C.12/GRC/2 |
31 Aug. 2012 |
30 June 2009 |
Fifty-sixth session |
|
7. Guyana (second to fourth periodic reports) |
E/C.12/GUY/2-4 |
10 Sept. 2012 |
30 June 2000 |
Fifty-sixth session |
|
8. Honduras |
E/C.12/HND/2 |
5 May 2014 |
30 June 2006 |
|
|
9. Kenya (second to fifth periodic reports) |
E/C.12/KEN/2-5 |
1 July 2013 |
30 June 2013 |
|
|
10. Kyrgyzstan (second and third periodic reports) |
E/C.12/KGZ/2-3 |
3 Apr. 2012 |
30 June 2005 30 June 2010 |
Fifty-fifth session |
|
11. Sudan |
E/C.12/SDN/2 |
27 July 2012 |
30 June 2003 |
Fifty-sixth session |
|
12. Tajikistan (second and third periodic reports) |
E/C.12/TJK/2-3 |
22 Sept. 2011 |
30 June 2011 |
Fifty-fourth session |
|
13. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (second to fourth periodic reports) |
E/C.12/MKD/2-4 |
17 Feb. 2014 |
30 June 2008 |
|
Third periodic reports |
Symbol |
Date received |
Date due |
Scheduled for consideration at |
|
14. Ireland |
E/C.12.IRL/3 |
7 May 2012 |
30 June 2007 |
Fifty-fifth session |
|
15. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) |
E/C.12/VEN/3 |
29 May 2012 |
30 June 2006 |
Fifty-fifth session |
|
16. Yemen |
E/C.12/YEM/3 |
11 July 2013 |
30 June 2013 |
|
Fourth periodic reports |
Symbol |
Date received |
Date due |
Scheduled for consideration at |
|
17. Angola (fourth and fifth periodic reports) |
E/C.12/AGO/4-5 |
26 Feb. 2014 |
30 June 2013 |
|
|
18. Chile |
E/C.12/CHL/4 |
21 Mar. 2012 |
30 June 2009 |
Fifty-fifth session |
|
19. France |
E/C.12/FRA/4 |
23 May 2013 |
30 June 2011 |
|
|
20. Iraq |
E/C.12/IRQ/4 |
22 May 2013 |
30 June 2000 |
Fifty-sixth session |
|
21. Mongolia |
E/C.12/MNG/4 |
22 Feb. 2012 |
30 June 2009 |
Fifty-fifth session |
|
22. Morocco |
E/C.12/MAR/4 |
24 Jan. 2013 |
30 June 2009 |
Fifty-sixth session |
|
23. Paraguay |
E/C.12/PRY/4 |
6 Oct. 2011 |
30 June 2011 |
Fifty-fourth session |
|
Fifth periodic reports |
Symbol |
Date received |
Date due |
Scheduled for consideration at |
|
24. Italy |
E/C.12/ITA/5 |
9 Aug. 2012 |
30 June 2009 |
Fifty-sixth session |
|
25. Costa Rica |
E/C.12/CRI/5 |
24 Oct. 2014 |
30 June 2012 |
|
|
26. Philippines |
E/C.12/PHL/5-6 |
24 Nov. 2014 |
30 June 2013 |
|
Sixth periodic reports |
Symbol |
Date received |
Date due |
Scheduled for consideration at |
|
27. Canada |
E/C.12/CAN/6 |
17 Oct. 2012 |
6 June 2010 |
|
|
28. Cyprus |
E/C.12/CYP/6 |
15 Oct 2014 |
30 June 2014 |
|
|
29. Sweden |
E/C.12/SWE/6 |
26 July 2013 |
30 June 2013 |
|
|
30. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
E/C.12/GBR/6 |
17 June 2014 |
30 June 2014 |
(b)Reports submitted by specialized agencies in accordance with article 18 of the Covenant
In accordance with rule 67 of its rules of procedure, the Committee is entrusted with the task of considering the reports submitted by specialized agencies pursuant to article 18 of the Covenant.
In accordance with rule 68 of the rules of procedure, the representatives of the specialized agencies concerned may make statements on matters falling within the scope of the activities of their respective organizations. The Secretary-General has invited the specialized agencies concerned to designate representatives to provide information.
Any report which may be received from the specialized agencies under article 18 of the Covenant will be made available to the Committee in due course.
Submission of reports by States parties in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant
In accordance with rule 59, paragraph 1, of its rules of procedure, the Committee shall at each session consider the status of submission of reports under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant and may make appropriate recommendations to the Council, including recommendations to the effect that the Secretary-General should send reminders to States parties from which reports have not been received. The Committee will have before it under this item the following document:
Note by the Secretary-General on the States parties to the Covenant and the status of submission of reports (E/C.12/54/2).
Formulation of suggestions and recommendations of a general nature based on the consideration of reports submitted by States parties to the Covenant and by the specialized agencies
Pursuant to rule 64 of its rules of procedure, the Committee may wish to make suggestions and recommendations of a general nature on the basis of its consideration of reports submitted by States parties and reports submitted by specialized agencies, in order to assist the Council to fulfil, in particular, its responsibilities under articles 21 and 22 of the Covenant. The Committee may also wish to make suggestions for consideration by the Council with reference to articles 19, 22 and 23 of the Covenant.
Consideration of communications under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant
In accordance with the provisional rules of procedure under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee will consider under this item communications which are, or appear to be, submitted to it under the Optional Protocol.
In accordance with article 8 of the Optional Protocol and rule 19, paragraph 1, of the provisional rules of procedure under the Optional Protocol, the Committee or its Working Group on Communications shall examine communications in closed meetings.
Miscellaneous matters
At its twenty-first session (1999), the Committee decided to include in its agenda a standing item, “miscellaneous matters”, under which it may consider any issue falling outside the scope of other standing agenda items.
Tentative programme of the fifty-fourth session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(23 February–6 March 2015)
First week: 23–27 February 2015
|
Monday, 23 February |
|||
|
1st meeting |
(public) |
Item 1 Item 2 |
Elections of officers Adoption of the agenda |
|
Item 3 Item 8 Item 11 |
Organization of work Submission of reports by States parties in accordance with articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant Miscellaneous matters |
||
|
Item 6 |
Relations with United Nations organs and other treaty bodies |
||
|
2nd meeting |
(public) |
Item 7 |
Consideration of reports: Paraguay |
|
Tuesday, 24 February |
|||
|
3rd meeting |
(public) |
Item 7 |
Consideration of reports: Paraguay(continued) |
|
4th meeting |
(public) |
Item 7 |
Consideration of reports: Tajikistan |
|
Wednesday, 25 February |
|||
|
5th meeting |
(public) |
Item 7 |
Consideration of reports: Tajikistan(continued) |
|
6th meeting |
(public) |
Item 7 |
Consideration of reports: Gambia; initial report |
|
Thursday, 26 February |
|||
|
7th meeting |
(public) |
Item 7 |
Consideration of reports: Gambia; initial report (continued) |
|
8th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
Friday, 27 February |
|||
|
9th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
10th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
Second week: 2–6 March
|
Monday, 2 March |
|||
|
11th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
12th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
Tuesday, 3 March |
|||
|
13th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
14th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
Wednesday, 4 March |
|||
|
15th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
16th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
Thursday, 5 March |
|||
|
17th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
18th meeting |
(private) |
Items 4, 6, 9 |
Closed meeting |
|
Friday, 6 March |
|||
|
19th meeting |
(private) |
Item 4 |
Substantive issues arising in the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights |
|
Item 5 |
Follow-up to the consideration of reports under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant |
||
|
Item 10 |
Consideration of communications under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant |
||
|
20th meeting |
(public) |
Close of session |
|
|
(private) |
Item 11 |
Miscellaneous matters |