Article 22.
The Contracting States shall report periodically to the Commission on Human Rights on the
measures they have taken to achieve the purposes set forth in the preceding article. The
Commission shall make appropriate recommendations and, when such measures have been
widely accepted, shall promote the conclusion of a special convention, or additional protocols
to this Convention or in such other instrument as considered appropriate. 22
7. The OAS Council adopted a resolution on June 12, 1968, asking the InterAmerican Commission to develop a final working document on the draft
Convention, which the Commission issued as the “Draft Inter-American
Convention on Protection of Human Rights.” The document was approved and
adopted by the Inter-American Specialized Conference. 23
8. The Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights was then
convened from November 7 through 22, 1969, in San José, Costa Rica, to
evaluate the draft. 24 The provisions on economic, social and cultural rights
read as follows:
Article 25.
1. The States Parties to this Convention recognize the need to devote their greatest efforts for
their domestic legislation to adopt and, if pertinent, guarantee the other rights set forth in the
American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man which are not included in the preceding
articles.
2. The States Parties also express their intention to enshrine and, where applicable, to maintain
and improve, in their domestic legislations, whatever provisions are most appropriate for: a
substantial, self-sustained increase in the per capita national product; equitable distribution of
national income; appropriate, equitable tax systems; modernization of rural life and reforms
that will lead to equitable, effective land tenure systems, improved agricultural productivity,
expansion of land use, diversification of production and better systems for the industrialization
and marketing of agricultural goods, and strengthening and expanding the means to achieve
these ends; expedited, diversified industrialization, especially of capital goods and intermediate
products; domestic price stability in harmony with sustained economic development and the
achievement of social justice; fair wages, employment opportunities and acceptable working
conditions for all; swift eradication of illiteracy and expansion of opportunities for all in the field
of education; protection of human potential by extending and applying modern know-how in
medical science; proper nutrition, especially by means of expedited national efforts to boost
the production and supply of foodstuffs; suitable housing for all sectors of the population;
urban conditions that facilitate a healthy, productive, decent life; promotion of private initiative
and investment in harmony with the action of the public sector, and the expansion and
diversification of exports.
Article 26.
The States Parties shall report periodically to the Commission on Human Rights on the
measures they have taken to achieve the purposes set forth in the foregoing article. The
Commission shall make appropriate recommendations and, when such measures have been
widely accepted, shall promote the conclusion of a special convention or additional protocols
to this Convention or such other instrument as considered appropriate.
Article 41.
1. The States Parties undertake to submit regular reports to the Commission on the measures
they have taken to guarantee the observation of the rights given in Article 25.
2. The Commission will set the timetable for these reports.
3. In the case of a report that should originally be submitted to the United Nations specialized
agencies or the Organization of American States, the State Party shall abide by the provisions
of paragraph 1 above by sending a copy of the same report to the Commission. 25
22
Cf. Opinion of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the draft Convention on Human
Rights approved by the Inter-American Council of Jurists, Part II, OAS/Ser.L/V/II.16/doc.8, in: InterAmerican Yearbook on Human Rights, 1968, OAS, Washington D.C., 1973, pg. 335.
23
Cf. Resolution of the OAS Council, October 2, 1968.
24
Cf. Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights, Act and Documents, OEA/Ser.K/XVI/1.2,
pp. 1-3 [available in Spanish only].
25
Cf. Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights, Act and Documents, OEA/Ser.K/XVI/1.2,
pp. 23 and 28-29 [available in Spanish only].