2000, 84 min/ 54 min (English, with subtitles), 54 min (Hindi)

Direction: Gargi Sen

Out of the Shadows depicts the role and functions of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), the body charged with monitoring implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).  The ICESCR is the principal international human rights treaty addressing economic, social and cultural rights issues.

The film takes its viewers on a journey to Geneva, Canada and Argentina to explore the concerns and work of NGOs engaging with the Committee. In Geneva Committee members talk about the Covenant, the role of the Committee, and of NGOs in the Committee's work; viewers can also see the Committee in action. In Canada, the film looks at how NGOs have used the Covenant and the Committee to strengthen and extend their advocacy work in that country. 

The journey culminates in Argentina where NGOs were preparing to engage with the Committee through developing a parallel report to the government's scheduled report to the CESCR in November 1999.