Global Initiative for Economic Social and Cultural Rights

Reverse the commercialization of public services:during 2023, we took the lead in building and mobilising an interdisciplinary movement to confront the powerful interests and institutions that drive commercialisation of services associated with Economic, Social, Cultural, and environmental Rights such as education and healthcare. In various international fora we called for universal access to high-quality, gender transformative, and equitable public services as the foundation of a fair and just society.

Environmental breakdown & just transitionsduring 2023, we raised awairness that decarbonisation must be adequately financed and aligned with, informed by, and influenced by human Rights principles. We were active in the geneva dialogues on human Rights and climate change, where we proposed just transition recommendations to un human Rights monitoring bodies. We produced several publications and capacity-building materials to support the efforts of the climate justice movement to influence un human Rights institutions. We also participated in Global and regional climate negotiations. We actively participated in the bonn climate change conference, in the climate week for latin america and the caribbean, and in the unfccc conference of parties (cop29) in dubai.

Fiscal justice:during 2023, promoted tax cooperation and actively participated in Global discussions to reform the international tax system. At regional and international levels, we campaigned effectively to integrate human Rights principles in fiscal policy and decision-making. We urged governments to adopt progressive tax systems that would enable them to invest in public services, tackle gender disparities, and address the climate crisis. In november, the efforts reached a climax when the united nations adopted a landmark resolution on international taxation with support from 125 countries.

Institutional frameworkswe supported national and local Rights advocates to engage with human Rights monitoring bodies or speak to human Rights mechanisms, to ensure that local perspectives inform the work of these bodies. We prepared analytical documents to enhance accessibility and understanding of human Rights standards. We encouraged national, regional, and universal human Rights bodies to adopt a progressive interpretation of standards that are relevant to climate change, renewable energies, public services, and fiscal policies. We worked with partners to ensure that human Rights mechanisms remain strong and credible, and have sufficient resources.