TORONTO INITIATIVE FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS

Economic and social rights guarantee rights to unionize, strike, and fair wages, and they promise access to housing, healthcare, education, and social security.  Along with civil and political rights, they are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and they bind states signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.  In addition, many new democracies have included economic and social rights in their constitutions, committing their governments to the progressive realization of social welfare.

The TIESR Dataset contains quantitative information on the constitutional status of economic and social rights in 195 countries.  This website makes this data available to scholars and activists conducting research on constitutions, rights, and human well-being.

This website also extends the online community of researchers and activists working on ESR. The Advisory Board includes leading scholars and activists working in this field who have agreed to offer guidance on this project. Our Partners include other organizations and researchers working on human rights. We are grateful to our Advisory Board and Partners for their help and cooperation on this project.