The Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) was established in 1993 to promote social justice through human rights. CESR works with social scientists and local partners in affected communities to document rights violations, advocate for changes in policies that impoverish and exploit people, and mobilize grassroots pressure for social change. As one of the first organizations to challenge economic injustice as a violation of international human rights law, CESR believes that economic and social rights -- legally binding on all nations -- can provide a universally accepted framework for strengthening social justice activism

Over the past six years, CESR has developed active regional programs in the United States, Middle East and Latin America. Currently CESR's Latin America work is conducted through CESR's sister organization in Ecuador, Centro de Derechos Economicos y Sociales (CDES). Through its projects, CESR has developed an effective strategy that combines research, advocacy, collaboration, and education. The basic aim of our work is to mobilize people to confront the policies that keep them poor. While the challenges are immense, real change is possible when disenfranchised communities use human rights to hold decision-makers – be they governments or corporations – accountable for their actions.