Event information

9 July 2021, 13:30-16:30

Draft General Comment on Land and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Event

Maros, Indonesia. Villagers walk through rice field in Rammang-rammang village, South Sulawesi Maros, Indonesia. Villagers walk through rice field in Rammang-rammang village, South Sulawesi

 The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is developing a general comment on land and economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR). The purpose of this general comment (GC) is to clarify the specific obligations of state parties relating to land and the governance of land tenure under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. By way of public consultation, the Committee invites interested individuals and organizations, including states, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, academics, international and regional organizations and experts, to make a written contribution to the draft GC.

The draft GC (draft text in English) recognizes the broad and complex relationship between land and human rights. It proposes more general and holistic guidance for policy in this area than has previously been available. Consequently, if and when adopted, the draft general comment is likely to influence policy and law on land governance and management in many member states.

This online event – co-organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform, UN-Habitat, the Global Land Tool Network, the Geneva Cities Hub, the Habitat International Coalition – builds on previous exchanges between the organizers and the rapporteurs of the draft GC.

Developing further the areas identified in the first discussion, the debate will focus on the following issue areas:

  • Women’s rights to land and inheritance
  • Evictions and displacement
  • Impacts of international investments including land grabbing and displacement
  • Land rights in urban areas; spatial justice and land rights
  • Examples of national legislation and policies.

Agenda

Discover the agenda.

Languages

The meeting will be held primarily in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish and French.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

environment News

New Research Brief examines the implementation and global impact of the UNGA Environment Resolution

12 December 2024

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new Research Brief examining the implementation and global impact of the UNGA Resolution recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Read more

GHRP in Davos News

AI and Human Rights in the Intelligent Age: GHRP in Davos

3 February 2025

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributed to key discussions on AI, human rights, and sustainable digital governance at the World Economic Forum 2025.

Read more

AI for Good Event Event

AI for human rights: Smarter, faster, fairer monitoring

8 July 2025, 14:00-16:00

The event, as part of the AI for Good Summit 2025 will explore how AI tools can support faster data analysis, help uncover patterns in large datasets, and expand the reach of human rights work.

Read more

United Nations Geneva Event

‘Urgency Measures’ to face a triple crisis – what insights can be taken from the Treaty Body strengthening process?

4 June 2025, 13:30-15:00

This side event represents a critical opportunity to reflect on the innovative approaches taken through the treaty body strengthening process and to consider the future direction of the treaty body system.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

10-14 November 2025

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

Read more

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

Read more

Crops view from the sky Project

The Right to Food in Europe

Started in December 2022

This research will provide legal expertise to a variety of stakeholders on the implementation of the right to food, and on the right to food as a legal basis for just transformation toward sustainable food systems in Europe. It will also identify lessons learned from the 2023 recognition of the right to food in the Constitution of the Canton of Geneva.  

Read more

Cover page of the working paper Publication

AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

published on January 2025

Milica Mirkovic, Jennifer Victoria Scurrell

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Research Brief - The United Nations Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas

published on December 2024

Christophe Golay

Read more