On 5 October 2020, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Special Consultative Status to the A 11 – Initiative for Economic and Social Rights. We are very happy to have been granted this Status, primarily because it opens up various additional possibilities for advocating for the advancement of economic and social rights of individuals subject to the jurisdiction of the Republic of Serbia.
Namely, having received the Special Consultative Status, the A 11 Initiative will now be able to participate not only in the sessions of the Economic and Social Rights Council and its functional committees and subsidiary bodies, but also in regular and thematic sessions of the Human Rights Council – a political body consisting of 47 member States of the United Nations five-year rotating mandates – whereby it would be able to present to the Council the numerous obstacles individuals and/or groups in Serbia face in the enjoyment of their rights. Additionally, the granted Status enables the A 11 Initiative to independently participate in all UN events and conferences requiring accreditation.
This form of participation presents a possibility for increasing the visibility in the international arena of the various obstacles individuals and groups in Serbia face in the enjoyment of economic and social rights. It also provides the A 11 Initiative with the opportunity to inform other member States of the United nations and Council members about the state of human rights in Serbia so that they could encourage Serbia to take steps towards ensuring the advancement of human rights.
Additionally, having been granted the Status, the A 11 Initiative places itself at the disposal of the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Rights Council for any form of inquiries or consultations related to the topics the A 11 Initiative specializes in.
The A 11 Initiative will continue to advocate for the advancement and progressive realization of economic and social rights of individuals and groups in the Republic in Serbia, as it has done to date, while the newly granted status will greatly contribute to this mission.