This article discusses the possibility of employing the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to bring claims involving the alleged violation of extra-territorial obligations of economic, social and cultural rights. Although the Optional Protocol explicitly restricts the making of individual complaints to those within a State’s jurisdiction, it does not eliminate the possibility of extra-territorial complaints under either the inter-state complaint or, particularly, the inquiry procedures. In some cases, individuals could also bring claims if they could demonstrate that the effective jurisdiction of a State party extended beyond its borders.

Keywords: Extra-territorial obligations, jurisdiction, Optional Protocol, economic, social and cultural rights.