What is the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)?

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is an international human rights treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966. It is legally binding, meaning that countries that sign it are legally obligated to respect it. The purpose of the ICESCR is to protect basic human rights related to economic, social, and cultural issues. The ICESCR contains roughly 40 articles, all of which guarantee basic rights like the right to work, the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to health and social security. It also aims to ensure that people have access to basic services like education, healthcare, and food. In addition, the agreement grants people the right to participate in the cultural life of their communities and to protect the right to intellectual property. In the United States, the ICESCR is not currently a part of domestic law, since the US has not yet ratified it. However, the US is a signatory to the treaty, meaning that it supports it as a part of international law. By safeguarding basic human rights related to economic, social, and cultural issues, the ICESCR works to promote justice and fairness among all people, regardless of where they live. This is a universal right, and although the US has not yet ratified the ICESCR, Washington can still take part in the agreement to promote peace and justice throughout the world.

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