Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

[4] In 1966, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Work on an individual complaints mechanism began in 1990, with a view to developing an Optional Protocol similar to those of other UN human rights instruments.

In 2006, the Human Rights Council gave the open-ended working group the task of formally negotiating a draft text.

Negotiations were completed in April 2008, and the resulting Optional Protocol was formally adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 2008.

Parties may permit the committee to investigate, report on and make recommendations on "grave or systematic violations" of the Covenant.