Presentation Transcript

1. To Geneva and Back:

   How to Present Your Human Rights Issues on a Global Stage Host: USHRN ICCPR Taskforce Moderator: Yolande Tomlinson, PhD National Education Coordinator, US Human Rights Network February 12, 2014 2 pm EST
2. Who We Are
3. How we work: ICCPR Taskforce JamilDakwar, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) (co-chair) NasrinaBargzie, Asian Law Caucus (co-chair) Sarah Paoletti, University of Pennsylvania Law School  EfiaNwangaza, Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination Chief Gary Harrison, Chickaloon Village Jennifer Prestholdt & Amy Bergquist, Advocates for Human Rights Katrina Anderson, Center for Reproductive Rights Kimi Lee, Excluded Workers Congress Latrina Kelly-James, Junta for Progressive Action Lauren E. Bartlett, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law Margaret Huang& Alyssa Escarce, Rights Working Group Mary Gerisch, Vermont Workers Center Tina Minkowitz, Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
4. Agenda Update on the ICCPR Coordination Process and Plans Moving Forward NasrinaBargzie, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Plan & Strategy for Advocating in Geneva and before the Human Rights Committee Katrina Anderson, Center for Reproductive Rights Advocating in the U.S. during the review process EfiaNwangaza, Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination Post-Review Plans/Taking the Results Home Cynthia Soohoo, CUNY Law School JotakaEaddy, NAACP Ejim Dike, USHRN Q&A
5. Update on the ICCPR Coordination Process and Plans Moving Forward NasrinaBargzie ICCPR Taskforce Co-Chair, Staff Attorney, Advancing Justice Asian Law Caucus
6. Task Force Plans for Organizing Participation The ICCPR Taskforce has organized 9 working groups covering topics we anticipate will be covered in the review. These groups are organizing together to best utilize the time available for the formal and informal briefings. Other organizations might be present and our organizing may need to adjust to accommodate for groups with which we have not yet connected. If you are planning to be in Geneva for the review, please join one of the working groups. Contact ICCPR coordinator, Kiera Lewis, at kiera@ushrnetwork.orgto join a working group.
7. UN Human Rights Committee Review of U.S. Compliance with ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Key international human rights treaty that provides a range of protections for civil and political rights Ratified by the U.S. in 1992 The current report under review, the fourth report, was submitted in Dec. 2011. Mar. 13-14, 2014 review will be the first review of the Obama Administration’s compliance with the ICCPR.
8. Year-long Human Rights Campaign to Connect all Mechanisms #HouRs365: ourtime for HumanRights There will be four separate international mechanism reviews in the next year. ICCPR, CERD, CAT, UPR US Human Rights Network is working with the task forces of each of these mechanisms to do a year-long campaign on human rights.   Campaign was announced in Jan. 2014 on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and calls for a bold human rights movement in the U.S. The campaign seeks to use social media to connect grassroots organizing and education to help build the movement for human dignity and raise awareness about government obligations. Stay tuned for upcoming actions. To learn more, visit: www.ushrnetwork.wix.com/hours365 and www.ushrnetwork.org
9. Going Digital: How to Use Social Media to Expand your Human Rights Advocacy – Feb. 20 Register Now! Details: Webinar on how to use social media tools – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - in order to hold U.S. accountable to ICCPR requirements and also to educate and inform broader community of human rights in the U.S. Webinar will help organizations to take part in social media components of year-long human rights campaign, Day of Action and broader advocacy. Webinar will be at 2pm Eastern on Feb. 20, 2014. US Human Rights Network has circulated registration information. Contact Yolande Tomlinson at ytomlinson@ushrnetwork.org w/ questions
10. National Day of Action on Feb. 26, 2014 Goal is to create space and an opportunity to have public conversations around the import of human rights protections domestically and to connect our advocacy to human rights campaigns in the U.S. Theme of the Feb. 26 Day of Action will be National Day of Action for Human Rights and Commemoration of Trayvon Martin. Planned actions include: National actions, including a Twitter rally with tags to @USHRN and @StateDept, and use hashtags #movementbuilder #ICCPR #Ushumanrights #Trayvon change Facebook banner (we will circulate suggested banner to use) and post pictures to USHRN Facebook or Instragram page wearing orange to commemorate the Day of Action Local actions, including host an event around human rights issues you are working on, post pictures of your event on February 26; send letters to local representatives advising them of Day of Action and upcoming US ICCPR review.
11. Advocating in Geneva & Before the Human Rights Committee Katrina Anderson, ICCPR Taskforce Member Center for Reproductive Rights
12. Organized Events in Geneva Formal Briefing Monday, March 10, 10:45 a.m.
13. Organized Events in Geneva Informal Briefings (2) Tuesday, March 11, 8:00 a.m., place TBD Thursday, March 13, 2:00-3:00 p.m., place TBD
14. Organized Events in Geneva Town Hall with U.S. Delegation Wednesday, March 12, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at U.S. Mission to U.N. (across from Palais des Nations)
15. Other Side event for Human Rights Council (TBD) Informal meetings with Committee members
16. Useful Documents: OHCHR.org
17. Useful Documents: OHCHR.org
18. Constructive Dialogue (Mar. 13-14) What does it look like? What is the role of civil society? What are the advocacy opportunities? Anything else I should know?
19. Advocating in the U.S. during the review process EfiaNwangaza ICCPR Taskforce Member Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination
20. Opportunities for Engagement Live webcast of review session Social Media With Geneva delegation With your network and supporters Op-eds Press releases Community/local radio & TV
21. Taking it Back Home: Post-Review Advocacy Yolande Tomlinson, USHRN Cynthia Soohoo, CUNY Law School JotakaEaddy, NAACP Ejim Dike, USHRN
22. Concluding Observations What are the Concluding Observations (COs)? List of recommendations to the U.S. Gov’t aimed at addressing concerns raised during the review Form the basis of future reports and follow-ups A source from which to do advocacy w/ the Gov’t on to implement the recommendations May also include other areas not mentioned in the Cos Examples of how others have utilized COs in their work Shackling Voting Rights
23. Utilizing COs: Shackling Cynthia Soohoo Director of the International Women’s Human Rights Clinic at CUNY School of Law
24. Utilizing COs: Voting Rights JotakaEaddy Senior Advisor to President & CEO and Senior Director of Voting Rights at the NAACP
25. The Year Ahead: Connecting to the Other Mechanisms Ejim Dike Executive Director US Human Rights Network
26. The Year Ahead
27. Q&A *1 to raise hand # to lower hand Use chat window to type in questions
28. Important Reminders ICCPR Coordinator, Kiera Lewis: kiera@ushrnetwork.org www.ushrnetwork.wix.com/hours365 Year-long Campaign www.tinyurl.com/n6h2fuf Feb. 20 Social Media Webinar Feb. 26th National Day of Action Join the Network – Become a Member www.ushrnetwork.org/join-movement