Letter dated 16 May 2012 addressed by the Chairperson of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to States parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

This policy brief will first, define CBM and outline both its distinct features and the legal and policy basis for it in the South African context, in order to make the case for its inclusion within the broader SER monitoring framework. The second section will consider: what is to be monitored?; How is monitoring done?; and, who should do the monitoring?. In answering these foundational questions, section two will discuss various CBM tools and instruments used in South Africa. Third, this paper will raise a number of key questions and challenges for the SER Monitoring Project in terms of how citizen based monitoring can be supported and incorporated into monitoring at other levels – most
notably the statistical indicators which the project aims to monitor and track over time.

An analysis of the policy effort, resource allocation and expenditure and enjoyment of the right to social security.

Summary of recommendations for South Africa from the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.