What is the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Covenant) is an international human rights treaty of the United Nations (UN). It was adopted on 10 December 1966 and came into force on 3 January 1976. The Covenant protects a wide range of economic, social and cultural rights (socio-economic rights). Together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which was adopted at the same time, the Covenant forms the cornerstone of international human rights law and has been ratified by 169 countries around the world. All African countries, except Botswana, Mozambique and South Sudan, have ratified and are therefore bound by the Covenant. South Africa ratified the Covenant on 12 January 2015.