PhilRights has implemented projects since 1995 starting with ESC Phase 1, with a series of consultations and workshops, results of which were packaged in “Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: the Philippine Experience”. This publication provides a discussion of the ESC framework, a glossary of ESC-related terms, and newly articulated standards and indicators.

Building on the Phase 1 project, ESC Phase 2 focused on the setting of standards and indicators of the five specific ESC rights (the right to food, health, housing, education and work) from the viewpoint of grassroots/communities. Grassroots consultations validated the standards and indicators culled from ESC Phase 1 and resulted in another publication, “Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: The Grassroots’ View.”

In the third and final phase of the ESC project, PhilRights is training community leaders, organizers, and supportive local officials on basic human rights, paralegal skills, and human rights monitoring and documentation. This is in preparation for the setting-up of a community-based multi-partite monitoring and documentation system for ESC rights. This project will facilitate grassroots participation in monitoring compliance of the government to its ESCR (rights to health, education, food, housing and work) obligations.

The institution has been recognized for its trailblazing efforts in monitoring and documentation of ESC rights.