经济、社会和文化权利国际救济机制的新突破——《经济、社会和文化权利国际公约任择议定书》述评

由于条约实施机制存在缺陷，《经济、社会和文化权利国际公约》所规定的社会权在国际层面一直得不到有效救济。这一状况对国际人权保护的连贯性和整体性产生了长久的负面影响。2008年12月10日，联合国大会通过了《（经济、社会和文化权利国际公约）任择议定书》。在缔约国报告程序之外，议定书还确立了个人来文程序、国家来文程序、调查程序三位一体的准司法性权利救济程序。这将会大大加强对个人社会权的国际保护，结束社会权与公民权国际保护不平衡的局面，进一步完善国际人权法体系，从而推动国际人权保护事业的发展。

Commentary on the Optional Protocol on Economic and Social Rights

Since the adoption of the two core international human rights covenants in 1966, the lack of a complaint procedure for economic, social and cultural rights has been a missing piece in the international human rights protection system. On 10 december 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Through individual complaints procedure, inter-state complaints procedure and inquiry procedure, the Optional Protocol established quasi-judicial procedure which would allow persons to petition an international human rights body about the violation of their rights under the Covenant. This would become an important new human rights instrument to strengthen the protection of economic, social and cultural fights.