Prof Sandra Liebenberg, HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law and Distinguished Professor at the Faculty of Law, has been nominated by the South African government as the country’s candidate to serve on the United Nations’ Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is the UN body of 18 independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by its States parties. Nominations for membership on the Committee may be made by States parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in accordance with Resolution 1985/17 of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of 28 May 1985. Members are elected for a term of four years by ECOSOC Member States. Committee Members serve in their personal capacity and may be re-elected if nominated.
In nominating Prof Liebenberg, the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated that her candidacy is in recognition of her “extensive experience in human rights law, particularly in the area of economic, social and cultural rights”. The full motivation of the Department can be access here.
The election of members will take place in April 2016 in New York.