International Service for Human Rights

Elections are due to take place at the end of April 2010 to replace half of the members of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights whose terms expire on 31 December 2010. The deadline for nominations of candidates by States Parties is 26 January 2010. There are presently eight nominations for nine places (as of 12 January 2010), of which five are current members standing for re-election. There is currently only competition for membership from the Latin American region (where there are three candidates for two places) and there is only one woman candidate seeking reelection, so if reelected there will still only be two women Committee members. The NGO Coalition for an Optional Protocol to the ICESCR is recommending that civil society lobby their Ministries of Foreign Affairs on this issue as early as possible to ensure that ‘qualified, independent and capable candidates’ are nominated, and has produced a detailed 'call to action’ to assist national NGOs in their advocacy.

Further information on submitting candidatures is available from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights here.