Economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) – including rights to food, healthcare and education, among others – are protected under international treaties and standards.
However, their enforcement by Member States has faced criticism for receiving less attention than civil and political rights.
This greater focus on civil and political rights has been observed in the peace and security field, including in peacebuilding programming.
This Policy Brief, drawing from a larger review of the Peacebuilding Fund, examines the link between ESCR and peacebuilding and explores how incorporating ESCR into peacebuilding could support conflict prevention and sustaining peace.
ESCR emerged as a key theme in 92 projects from the review, including country case studies from Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This brief outlines ESCR's role in those projects, lessons learned and future directions for ESCR-related programming in peacebuilding.
Access “Economic, social and cultural rights in peacebuilding” here.
Suggested citation: Economic, social and cultural rights in peacebuilding : UNU-CPR, 2025.
