Contributions of GENERAL COMMENT NO. 26 OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS to the Progressive affirmation of land as a human right

Abstract

This note addresses General Comment No. 26 on land rights and economic, social and cultural rights, adopted towards the end of 2022 by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In this General Comment, the Committee analyses and delimits the obligations of States parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with regard to access, use and control over land. Based on the analysis of its context and content, the present note argues that the General Comment, which comes at a time of increasing pressure on land and land users’ rights, constitutes an important contribution to the progressive affirmation of land as a human right.