OPERA | A FOUR STEP FRAMEWORK FOR MONITORING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS FULFILLMENT OUTCOMES Measure aggregate levels of rights enjoyment This step interprets socio-economic outcome indicators in light of relevant human rights standards to uncover patterns and trends in rights deprivations groups. Measure disparities in rights enjoyment Measure progress over time This step assesses the laws to the state’s human rights commitments. It seeks to determine the extent to which they have translated into adequate goods and services on the ground and to identify the capacity gaps that have led to shortcomings in their implementation. Identify legal and policy commitments Examine policy content and implementation Analyze policy processes POLICY EFFORTS WHAT CONCEPTS ARE WE MEASURING? HOW CAN WE MEASURE THEM? Minimum core obligations: Widespread deprivations suggest obligations of result (e.g. to reach minimum essential levels of a right) are not being met. Compare socio-economic outcome indicators to relevant benchmarks and/or analogous countries. Deviations can point to whether or not a country’s performance is reasonable. Non-discrimination and equality: Disaggregate socio-economic indicators by relevant social groups (e.g. ethnicity, religion, gender, region, income, etc.) to uncover any particular or intersecting disparities. right raise concerns about possible discrimination or failure to address disadvantage. Compare the same socio-economic Progressive realization and indicators over time (aggregate or non-retrogression: Identifying disaggregated). trends in the enjoyment of a right over time indicates whether there is progress or backsliding and whether disparities are growing or reducing. WHAT CONCEPTS ARE WE MEASURING? HOW CAN WE MEASURE THEM? Obligation to take steps: Whether the government is taking adequate legislative, judicial, administrative, social and other measures towards the full realization of rights. Identify indicators that demonstrate commitments made and analyze the provisions of relevant laws and policies against international standards, guidelines, etc. AAAAQ: Whether the goods and services needed to fulfill a right are increasingly available, accessible, acceptable and of adequate quality, without discrimination. A range of techniques can be used to gather primary or secondary data that measure these criteria. Cross-country comparisons, disaggregated and temporal data all help in judging the reasonableness of the state’s performance. Participation, transparency, right to a remedy: Whether rights holders can actively participate in the design, implementation and oversight of policies and have avenues to hold government to account or seek redress when they Qualitative techniques (e.g. focus groups, interviews) can gather feedback from particular rights holders. Quantifiable studies (e.g. perception surveys and governance indicators) may provide a general overview. The steps of the framework represent four broad dimensions, within which an inventory of relevant issues is grouped. They need not be carried out in a strict sequential order and can be adapted to focus on one step or sub-step over another, depending on the context. For more information visit www.cesr.org.