To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister why the Executive was not represented alongside the other devolved administrations at the 58th Session of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

In common with other main UN human rights treaties, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) requires the State Parties to it, including the UK, to make periodic reports detailing how the rights are being implemented. These reports are examined by a body of independent experts- the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). The CESCR considered the Sixth Periodic Report of the UK on the implementation of ICESCR at its 36th and 37th meetings held in Geneva on 15 and 16 June 2016. It is regular practice for the CESCR to examine these Reports in the presence of officials from the reporting State.

The Ministry of Justice had coordinated the reporting process on behalf of the UK State Party, and the UK’s written response forwarded to the UN did not contain input specific to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Whilst a decision was not taken on this occasion to send a specific representative from the Executive to Geneva to take part in the oral examination of the UK’s sixth Periodic Report, we are committed to engaging actively with the reporting process in the future, to promote the many positive actions here and ensure the good work being taken forward to protect human rights is reported back to the United Nations.