OAS/SER.L/V/V/II. Doc. 28 March 30, 2021 Original: Spanish FOURTH
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OAS/SER.L/V/V/II. Doc. 28 March 30, 2021 Original: Spanish FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEURSHIP ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS (REDESCA) OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (IACHR), 2020 Working for the effective indivisibility, interdependence, and protection of all human rights for all People in the Americas "Human and planetary health face an unprecedented crisis." Soledad García Muñoz Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Approved by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on March 30, 2021 Dedicated to all health, care and essential service workers who during 2020 were (and continue to be) the first line of action in the face of the pandemic. Dedicated to all those suffering from COVID19 and to their families. To the Memory of ESCER Defenders who lost their lives in 2020, with special recognition to Gilda Pacheco Oreamuno, human rights defender from Costa Rica, for her legacy of promoting and defending ESCER in the Americas and deep appreciation for her invaluable support to REDESCA's mandate. TABLE OF ACRONYMS AND REFERENCES IACHR: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights American Convention: American Convention on Human Rights IACHR Court: Inter-American Court of Human Rights CESCR: United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) American Declaration: American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man OAS: Organization of American States ILO: International Labor Organization UN: United Nations OPS: Pan American Health Organization WHO: World Health Organization ICESCR: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights UNDP: United Nations Development Programme San Salvador Protocol: Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction Tests REDESCA: Office of the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights. Content CHAPTER I: GENERAL INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 6 A. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 6 B. Main activities of the Office of the Special Rapporteur on ESCER rights ............................ 7 2) Participation in IACHR sessions and public hearings ........................................................... 8 3) Monitoring Activities ............................................................................................................. 13 4) Mandate Promotion and Technical Assistance Activities ................................................... 13 5) OAS Working Group of the Protocol of San Salvador .......................................................... 18 6) Visits and work meetings ...................................................................................................... 19 7) Thematic reports, annual reports and production of expert knowledge .......................... 19 8) Special pronouncements and statements ............................................................................ 19 9) Financing ................................................................................................................................ 22 10) Work Team ............................................................................................................................. 23 CHAPTER II: THE SITUATION OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS IN THE HEMISPHERE ......................................................................................................... 24 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 25 INFORMATION BY COUNTRY .............................................................................................................. 27 1) ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ..................................................................................................... 27 2) ARGENTINA ........................................................................................................................... 30 3) BAHAMAS ............................................................................................................................... 40 4) BARBADOS ............................................................................................................................. 45 5) BELIZE .................................................................................................................................... 48 6) BOLIVIA .................................................................................................................................. 53 7) BRAZIL .................................................................................................................................... 53 8) CANADA ................................................................................................................................. 70 9) CHILE ...................................................................................................................................... 77 10) COLOMBIA ............................................................................................................................. 88 11) COSTA RICA............................................................................................................................ 97 12) CUBA .................................................................................................................................... 104 13) DOMINICA ........................................................................................................................... 110 14) ECUADOR ............................................................................................................................ 113 15) EL SALVADOR ..................................................................................................................... 122 16) UNITED STATES ................................................................................................................. 139 17) GRENADA ............................................................................................................................ 159 18) GUATEMALA ....................................................................................................................... 163 19) GUYANA ............................................................................................................................... 178 20) HAITI ................................................................................................................................... 183 21) HONDURAS ......................................................................................................................... 187 22) JAMAICA .............................................................................................................................. 200 23) MEXICO ................................................................................................................................ 204 24) NICARAGUA ........................................................................................................................ 217 25) PANAMA .............................................................................................................................. 232 26) PARAGUAY .......................................................................................................................... 239 28) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ...................................................................................................... 255 29) SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS ................................................................................................... 261 30) SAINT LUCIA ....................................................................................................................... 264 31) SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ......................................................................... 267 32) SURINAM ............................................................................................................................. 270 33) TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ................................................................................................... 273 34) URUGUAY ............................................................................................................................ 275 35) VENEZUELA ........................................................................................................................ 281 CHAPTER III: TRENDS IN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE ECSC NETWORK 2020 REPORT ................... ……………………………………282 CHAPTER IV: FINAL REFLECTIONS.........................................................................................................297 CHAPTER I: GENERAL INFORMATION A. Introduction 1. In 2012, the Commission decided to create a Unit on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR Unit). Subsequently, in 2014 it decided to transform it into a Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights (ESCER Special Rapporteurship), initiating a process for its creation, with the search for resources for that purpose. In the framework of its Strategic Plan, the IACHR 2017- 2021 decided to launch the ESCER Special Rapporteurship in 2017 as a step