Financial Support

The REDESCA has put into operation thanks to a project that only ensured its first year of operation, with resources coming mainly from the Fund of Spain in the OAS and partial contributions from Swiss cooperation and voluntary contributions from Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The efficient management of available resources, such as the assurance of new items, has enabled REDESCA to continue operating beyond the first year and to begin to have new sources of financing, which are still far from adequately supporting the importance and sustainability that the mandate requires.

In her mandate, the Special Rapporteur has focused particularly on seeking strategic alliances and sources of financing to strengthen and sustain the mandate. Thus, she has maintained an intense schedule of meetings and visits, both in America and in Europe, while she has made constant use of the media and social networks to promote her mandate and actions. Likewise, the DESCA Special Rapporteur organized a donor round table in 2018, in which she had the support of a special letter from the Secretary General, in which he made an express appeal in favor of REDESCA, stating: "It is the second Office of the Special Rapporteur established by the IACHR throughout its history, to develop its mandate to promote and protect social rights. Its agenda and strategic actions make it a key space for the IACHR, the organization as a whole, and all member states in comprehensively guaranteeing human rights. It is urgent and necessary to contribute to its sustainability and the realization of its projects in full founding stage ".

Likewise, the Special Rapporteur undertook a tour of several European countries during July 2018 to make her mandate known, as well as seek potential donors. The first part of the said mission (Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) she carried out in conjunction with the Executive Secretary of the IACHR and her Head of Office, later also visiting Spain and Switzerland individually.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur has also forged valuable alliances with public institutions, especially with the National Human Rights Institutions, the Ibero-American Federation of Ombudsmen, and the Regional Program to support the Ibero-American Ombudsman's Office of the University of Alcalá de Henares. Likewise, with civil society, universities, and other international organizations. In this sense, the mandate has begun to negotiate and sign specific inter-institutional agreements on ESCR. Among them, those signed with the National University of Córdoba (Argentina), the University of Monterrey (Mexico), the Ombudsman's Office of the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina), and OXFAM International can be highlighted.

The GTPSS, in its 2018 report, also expressly acknowledges and calls for the strengthening of REDESCA, stating: "It is pleased with the appointment of the Special Rapporteur on DESCA, Soledad García Muñoz, as a member of the Group representing the IACHR , and predicts an excellent integration work process, valuing cooperation with the IACHR as a priority, as well as considering it essential to strengthen the said mandate and to allocate economic and technical resources from the regular fund as well as from other sources so that the Rapporteur can fulfill with their regular work, as well as with the tasks of their participation in the Working Group of the Protocol of San Salvador ".

The Rapporteur appreciates all the contributions made to the REDESCA voluntary contribution fund by member states and observers of the OAS. Among the members, to date contributions have been received from Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. On the part of the Observers, special mention and thanks deserve the financial support received from Spain, through successive projects. France has also contributed to the voluntary contributions fund and Switzerland has done so in some of the projects that REDESCA implements.

 

Work Team

Since its inception, several cooperation agreements have been signed with institutions willing to strengthen the equipment and technical capacities of the REDESCA-IACHR for the fulfillment of its mandate. It is worth highlighting the creation of specific scholarships from the University of Monterrey (Mexico) and the University of Córdoba (Argentina). Or personnel associated with the Public Ministry of Defense of the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Public, academic, or civil society institutions interested in entering into this type of agreement can contact the mandate through its institutional email [email protected].