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==Pittsburgh & the World--Bringing Human Rights Home==
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==2024-2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pittsburgh==
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In 2019-2020, the United States is undergoing a comprehensive human rights assessment through the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Pittsburgh community leaders will be working with other Human Rights Cities to provide local documentation and recommendations for this review of the US human rights record (See: [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project UPR Cities Project]). A UPR Pittsburgh Planning Committee made up of community organizers and representatives from City agencies working to advance human rights is producing a report for the UN's Universal Periodic Review and using this to shape ongoing conversations about human rights in our region. 
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In 2025, the United States is once again participating in the comprehensive human rights peer review process via the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.  
  
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We're working to compile reports on the state of human rights in our region while also building networks to help promote better human rights practices. Following the submission of our report to the UN, we'll continue to build on that and engage residents in consultations about local human rights conditions as we develop strategies for realizing human rights in our communities. In mid-Februrary 2020 we'll release a local human rights report, in preparation for the United Nations review of the U.S. national human rights record. We'll be working with cities around the country to help draw attention to this global conversation about human rights and the responsibility of governments at all levels to do much more to carry out their obligations under international human rights law.  
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Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance is holding a series of <big>'''community forums'''</big> on human rights topics to raise awareness of local conditions, stimulate conversation, and foster engagement in the drafting of our civil society submission, which is due in early April 2025.  
  
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Our reports will be used to promote public awareness and policy responses to our regional human rights conditions and to build political will—that is, a broad-based political constituency that is vocal and active in support and defense of human rights for all residents. A key goal of the UPR Cities initiative is movement-building to build the political will, skills, and collective momentum to carry out these recommendations and re-orient our community so that human rights are the top priority—not a by-product of economic growth and conventional “development.” We want UPR City activities we do support the ongoing work by community and grassroots organizations and to broaden our networks of mutual support and cooperation for human rights.
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'''Countering Racist Campaigning & Building Inclusive Communities for All.''' Wednesday, October 30th, 5:30-7:30pm, Hill District Community Engagement Center
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:How can we work together to resist today’s “divide and conquer” campaigning and stand in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors? In conversation with members of our local immigrant communities and human rights experts, this forum explores how we can use human rights law to build a city for everyone and meaningfully address the racist politics of scapegoating.
  
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'''This work is being led and coordinated by the ''Pittsburgh Universal Periodic Review task force,'' which includes:''' Alliance for Police Accountability, Casa San Jose, Green Party of Allegheny County, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW, Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance, Just Harvest, City of Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission & Gender Equity Commission, Urbankind Institute, and others. NOTE: Virtually all of our work is strictly volunteer: ''We have no grants or paid staff supporting this work, so volunteers are needed and most welcome to help us build this effort!''
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:Panel participants: '''Carlos Blanco''', Community Representative,''Casa San Jose''; '''Hetal Dhagat''', Senior Attorney, ''Education Law Center'', '''Karim Alshurafa''', Spokesperson, ''Palestinian Community in Pittsburgh''; '''Zainab Adisa''', Panel Moderator & Racial Equity Fellow, ''Allegheny County Department of Human Services''
  
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'''Media Release'''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Lobby_Days_Media_Outreach_UPR_For_WEB.pdf Pittsburgh Youth and Community Leaders Travel to Washington DC to Make an “Appeal to the World” for Human Rights] February 27, 2020
 
  
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===Submissions to the United Nations===
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'''Housing & Human Rights: A Community Forum.''' Saturday, November 9th, 10:30am-12:30pm, East Liberty Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
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*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/8/85/UPR_Pittsburgh_Stakeholder_Report_With_Exec_Summary.pdf Racial Inequity at the Core of Human Rights Challenges in Pittsburgh] -Full Pittsburgh Stakeholder Report to United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. Government, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/54/Media_Release_UPR_Pittsburgh_2019.pdf 2-Page Summary]
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::The human right to housing is well established in international law, yet many residents in our region suffer from housing insecurity, poor quality housing, and homelessness. How can we work together to promote and protect housing as a human right? How can international human rights law be a resource to advance work for housing rights in our city? This community forum will shape our local advocacy and inform a report for the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights in the United States. Come learn about current housing rights issues in our region and how we can build local solutions and use international law to strengthen our efforts. This meeting is part of a series of community forums on human rights to help build awareness and strengthen our collective work to bring human rights home.
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*[http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/images/4/49/UPR_US_Cities_Stakeholder_Report_2019_Final_Submission_with_summary.pdf Pittsburgh joins other US Cities in UN Report: ''"Corporate Influence Threatens Human Rights in Communities Nationwide"''] (''*For more details on the national campaign see [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project UPR Cities Initiative]).''
 
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*[https://static.wixstatic.com/ugd/2eb10d_8f5c774866b24ec2989644c6a765f2ae.pdf EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF UNITED STATES CIVIL SOCIETY STAKEHOLDERS’ REPORTS], submitted by US Human Rights Network
 
  
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==Calendar==
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:Panel participants: '''Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E)''', Community Care and Resistance in Pittsburgh (CCRIP) & Allegheny County’s Just Home project;'''Bob Damewood''', ''Regional Housing Legal Services'';'''Rachel Shepherd''', ''PCity of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations''; '''Leeretta Payne''', ''Human Rights City Alliance''
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*'''Monday, November 11, 6:00-8:00PM''' '''''Human Rights Community Forum: Human Rights & Health''''' 1 Smithfield Street, Downtown PGH, Homestead Grays Room. ''Co-sponsored by: The Pittsburgh Universal Periodic Review task force, which includes: Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance, Casa san Jose, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW, Just Harvest, City of Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission & Gender Equity Commission, and others.''   '''Food will be provided.''' [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project#Tools.2C_Examples.2C_and_Templates See UPR Cities Initiative] [https://www.facebook.com/events/1345645395598741 Facebook link]
 
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*'''Monday, December 9, 6:00-8:00PM''' '''''Human Rights Community Forum: Human Rights & Decent Work''''' 1 Smithfield Street, Downtown PGH, Homestead Grays Room.''Co-sponsored by: The Pittsburgh Universal Periodic Review task force, which includes: Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance, Casa san Jose, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW, Just Harvest, City of Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission & Gender Equity Commission, and others.''  '''Food will be provided.''' [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project#Tools.2C_Examples.2C_and_Templates See UPR Cities Initiative]
 
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*'''January 25, 2020 [http://pittsburghracialjusticesummit.org/ Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit]
 
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*Our Community Forum Series will continue with monthly gatherings in 2020
 
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*Target date for Local Human Rights UPR assessment: February 15, 2020
 
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*U.S. Universal Periodic Review at United Nations in Geneva, May 2020
 
  
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==Next Steps: Pittsburgh Joins National Lobby Days==
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==2019-2020 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pittsburgh==
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The 2019-2020 United Nations Review of the United States human rights record provides an important opportunity for us to build support for more people-centered national and local policies. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/8/85/UPR_Pittsburgh_Stakeholder_Report_With_Exec_Summary.pdf Organizers in Pittsburgh] and in cities and communities across the U.S. have submitted our [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/images/4/49/UPR_US_Cities_Stakeholder_Report_2019_Final_Submission_with_summary.pdf report to the UN on the human rights challenges faced by cities around the country]. Our next step is to send delegations of grassroots human rights defenders to lobby UN officials in New York, Washington DC, and Geneva to bring our human rights priorities and recommendations into the official proceedings of the US Universal Periodic Review. '''[https://secure.everyaction.com/sKaEMuNwOUa_xxjt7AjSxQ2 We need you to help support this delegation with your donation!''']
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In 2019-2020, the United States participated in a comprehensive human rights assessment through the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Created by the UN Human Rights Council in 2006, the UPR process involves a periodic review (every 4.5 years) of the human rights record in all 193 member states. The goal of the UPR process is to improve the enjoyment of human rights in all states by prompting, supporting, and expanding the promotion and protection of human rights on the ground. The UPR Working Group met in Geneva in November 2020 to review US submissions.  
  
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Pittsburgh human rights advocates collaborated with other Human Rights Cities to provide documentation and recommendations for this review of the US human rights record (See: [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project UPR Cities Project]). As part of this work, local advocates produced and submitted to the UN a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/8/85/UPR_Pittsburgh_Stakeholder_Report_With_Exec_Summary.pdf UPR report on the state of human rights in Pittsburgh].
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The analyses and recommendations contained in this report help to promote public awareness and policy responses to our regional human rights conditions and to build political will — i.e., a broad-based political constituency that is vocal and active in support and defense of human rights for all residents. A key goal of the UPR Cities initiative is movement-building to build the political will, skills, and collective momentum to carry out these recommendations and re-orient our community so that human rights are the top priority— not a by-product of economic growth and conventional “development.” We want UPR Report to support the ongoing work by community and grassroots organizations and to broaden our networks of mutual support and cooperation for human rights.
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'''2019 Pittsburgh UPR Task Force'''
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*Alliance for Police Accountability
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*Casa San Jose
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*Green Party of Allegheny County
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*Hill District Consensus Group
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*Pittsburgh for CEDAW
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*Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance
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*Just Harvest
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*City of Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission & Gender Equity Commission
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*Urbankind Institute
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*Others
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==Submissions to the United Nations==
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*Pittsburgh UPR Report (Full Version), [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/8/85/UPR_Pittsburgh_Stakeholder_Report_With_Exec_Summary.pdf Racial Inequity at the Core of Human Rights Challenges in Pittsburgh]
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*Pittsburgh UPR Report, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/54/Media_Release_UPR_Pittsburgh_2019.pdf 2-Page Summary]
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*Pittsburgh joins other US Cities in UN Report [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/images/4/49/UPR_US_Cities_Stakeholder_Report_2019_Final_Submission_with_summary.pdf ''"Corporate Influence Threatens Human Rights in Communities Nationwide"'']
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*[https://static.wixstatic.com/ugd/2eb10d_8f5c774866b24ec2989644c6a765f2ae.pdf Executive Summary of United States Civil Society Reports], submitted by US Human Rights Network
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==Community Forums==
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The 2019 UPR Pittsburgh Task Force held a series of community forums to inform our submission to the United Nations. These forums also served to raise consciousness and build community engagement around human rights advocacy.
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*August, 2019: Immigrant and Refugee Rights
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*September, 2019: Housing as a Human Right
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*October, 2019: The Human Right to Food
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*November, 2019: Health as a Human Right
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*December, 2019: Human Rights and Decent Work
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*January 25, 2020: [http://pittsburghracialjusticesummit.org/ Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit] Session: ''"Bringing Reparations Claims to the United Nations/World Court of Human Rights"'' (See [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Reparations_Resource_Guide Reparations Resource Guide])
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*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Learning_from_COVID-19:Shaping_a_Health_and_Human_Rights_Agenda_for_our_Region Learning from COVID-19: Shaping a Health and Human Rights Agenda for our Region]. Alternate Thursdays 4:00-5:30PM (Online) April 30, May 14, May 28, June 11.
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==National Lobby Days==
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The UN Universal Periodic Review of the United States human rights record provides an important opportunity to build support for more people-centered national and local policies. Following submission of evidence and reports to the UN as part of this process, Pittsburgh sent delegations of grassroots human rights defenders to lobby UN officials to bring our human rights priorities and recommendations into the official proceedings of the US Universal Periodic Review.
 
   
 
   
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Please help us build on the powerful work of grassroots human rights activists and help us show the international community that despite the actions of the Trump Administration, US residents believe in human rights and are working hard to “bring them home!” We know from past work that grassroots organizers can have a powerful impact on the thinking of international officials, and the experience of seeing the United Nations in action can help our movements develop creative ideas for using these mechanisms to build power. [https://secure.everyaction.com/sKaEMuNwOUa_xxjt7AjSxQ2 Please make a contribution to support Pittsburgh’s delegation]. Working together, we can amplify our voices in the global conversation about how we can improve human rights conditions for more of the world’s people.
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These delegations illustrate the powerful work of grassroots human rights activists to show the international community that US residents believe in human rights and are working hard to “bring them home!” We know from past work that grassroots organizers can have a powerful impact on the thinking of international officials, and the experience of seeing the United Nations in action can help our movements develop creative ideas for using these mechanisms to build power. Working together, we can amplify our voices in the global conversation about how we can improve human rights conditions for more of the world’s people.
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'''UPR Lobby Delegation to Washington DC''': February 2020
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[https://casasanjose.org/ Casa San José] made it possible for us to send a delegation to Washington DC to bring the messages about human rights conditions in our region to embassy representatives advising their governments about the upcoming UN human rights assessment of the United States. Most of our delegation were young people, including two high school students from Casa San José. Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Hill District Consensus Group, Pgh for CEDAW, and the Peoples Campaign for Reparations and Black Self-Determination also sent representatives. The delegates we met were keenly interested in learning about conditions on the ground, and they were also excited to learn of our work to organize nationally around the UPR process. We put forward suggestions for recommendations we hope they will emphasize in the US report, which we can then use as tools for our advocacy.
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'''Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights City Leadership Summit in Atlanta''': May 2023
  
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With support from the Heinz Foundation, a Pittsburgh delegation of over 30 community organizers, advocates, and activists attended the Human Rights City Leadership Summit in Atlanta's Georgia State University College of Law from May 18-21. The delegation convened with UN Officials, civil leaders, and other grassroots organizers to explore innovative policy solutions and good practices to "bring human rights home!" See our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Press Release].
  
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'''Pittsburgh News'''
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==Press==
 
*[https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/10/14/Coalition-U-N-Human-rights-Pittsburgh-people-of-color-low-income-gender-equity-human-relations-commission/stories/201910140100 Coalition to U.N.: Human rights in Pittsburgh are lagging for people of color, people with low incomes] ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' 15 October, 2019
 
*[https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/10/14/Coalition-U-N-Human-rights-Pittsburgh-people-of-color-low-income-gender-equity-human-relations-commission/stories/201910140100 Coalition to U.N.: Human rights in Pittsburgh are lagging for people of color, people with low incomes] ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' 15 October, 2019
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*[https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/video/zero-evictions-day-proclamation/vp-AAI7Vm3 Pittsburgh files human rights report to the UN & Passes City Zero Evictions Day Proclamation] -Pittsburgh activist groups and city leaders are submitting a report on local human rights conditions to the United Nations, centering the problem of racial inequities and its impacts on residents' right to adequate housing. Without secure and safe housing, no other rights can be realized.
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*[https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/video/zero-evictions-day-proclamation/vp-AAI7Vm3 Pittsburgh files human rights report to the UN & Passes City 'Zero Evictions Day' Proclamation]
 
**[https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/10/01/zero-evictions-day-proclamation/ See link to full recording of our press conference announcing UPR report and Zero Evictions Proclamation]
 
**[https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/10/01/zero-evictions-day-proclamation/ See link to full recording of our press conference announcing UPR report and Zero Evictions Proclamation]
 
**[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/32/PGH_Media_Release_UPR_Report_and_Zero_Evictions_Days_Proclamation.pdf '''Press Release:''' Pittsburgh Joins Global “Zero Evictions Days” & Files Human Rights Report with United Nations]
 
**[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/32/PGH_Media_Release_UPR_Report_and_Zero_Evictions_Days_Proclamation.pdf '''Press Release:''' Pittsburgh Joins Global “Zero Evictions Days” & Files Human Rights Report with United Nations]
 
*[https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/08/05/immigrants-rights-forum-pittsburgh-allegheny-county/stories/201908050132 Immigration rights are human rights, speakers at Downtown forum say] ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' August 6, 2019. Coverage of our UPR Cities Roundtable on the Rights of Immigrants and Refugees in the Pittsburgh Region.
 
*[https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/08/05/immigrants-rights-forum-pittsburgh-allegheny-county/stories/201908050132 Immigration rights are human rights, speakers at Downtown forum say] ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' August 6, 2019. Coverage of our UPR Cities Roundtable on the Rights of Immigrants and Refugees in the Pittsburgh Region.
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*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Lobby_Days_Media_Outreach_UPR_For_WEB.pdf Pittsburgh Youth and Community Leaders Travel to Washington DC to Make an “Appeal to the World” for Human Rights] February 27, 2020
  
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'''NEWS: Cross-City and Global Initiative for Human Rights Cities'''
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'''Cross-City and Global Initiative for Human Rights Cities'''
 
*[https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/10/28/corporate-influence-threatens-human-rights-communities-nationwide Corporate Influence Threatens Human Rights in Communities Nationwide] Common Dreams October 28, 2019
 
*[https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/10/28/corporate-influence-threatens-human-rights-communities-nationwide Corporate Influence Threatens Human Rights in Communities Nationwide] Common Dreams October 28, 2019
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*[https://www.openglobalrights.org/bringing-human-rights-home-new-strategies-for-local-organizing/ '''Bringing Human Rights Home: New Strategies for Local Organizing'''] ''Open Global Rights'', By Jackie Smith & Joshua Cooper-U.S. Human Rights Cities Alliance, August 1, 2018.  
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*[https://www.openglobalrights.org/bringing-human-rights-home-new-strategies-for-local-organizing/ Bringing Human Rights Home: New Strategies for Local Organizing] ''Open Global Rights'', By Jackie Smith & Joshua Cooper-U.S. Human Rights Cities Alliance, August 1, 2018.  
  
 
*For more details see the [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project UPR Cities Initiative].
 
*For more details see the [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project UPR Cities Initiative].
 
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Alliance Return to Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance Page]
 
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Alliance Return to Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance Page]

Latest revision as of 16:42, 15 November 2024

2024-2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pittsburgh

In 2025, the United States is once again participating in the comprehensive human rights peer review process via the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance is holding a series of community forums on human rights topics to raise awareness of local conditions, stimulate conversation, and foster engagement in the drafting of our civil society submission, which is due in early April 2025.

Countering Racist Campaigning & Building Inclusive Communities for All. Wednesday, October 30th, 5:30-7:30pm, Hill District Community Engagement Center

How can we work together to resist today’s “divide and conquer” campaigning and stand in solidarity with our immigrant neighbors? In conversation with members of our local immigrant communities and human rights experts, this forum explores how we can use human rights law to build a city for everyone and meaningfully address the racist politics of scapegoating.
Panel participants: Carlos Blanco, Community Representative,Casa San Jose; Hetal Dhagat, Senior Attorney, Education Law Center, Karim Alshurafa, Spokesperson, Palestinian Community in Pittsburgh; Zainab Adisa, Panel Moderator & Racial Equity Fellow, Allegheny County Department of Human Services


Housing & Human Rights: A Community Forum. Saturday, November 9th, 10:30am-12:30pm, East Liberty Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The human right to housing is well established in international law, yet many residents in our region suffer from housing insecurity, poor quality housing, and homelessness. How can we work together to promote and protect housing as a human right? How can international human rights law be a resource to advance work for housing rights in our city? This community forum will shape our local advocacy and inform a report for the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights in the United States. Come learn about current housing rights issues in our region and how we can build local solutions and use international law to strengthen our efforts. This meeting is part of a series of community forums on human rights to help build awareness and strengthen our collective work to bring human rights home.
Panel participants: Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E), Community Care and Resistance in Pittsburgh (CCRIP) & Allegheny County’s Just Home project;Bob Damewood, Regional Housing Legal Services;Rachel Shepherd, PCity of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations; Leeretta Payne, Human Rights City Alliance

2019-2020 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Pittsburgh

In 2019-2020, the United States participated in a comprehensive human rights assessment through the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Created by the UN Human Rights Council in 2006, the UPR process involves a periodic review (every 4.5 years) of the human rights record in all 193 member states. The goal of the UPR process is to improve the enjoyment of human rights in all states by prompting, supporting, and expanding the promotion and protection of human rights on the ground. The UPR Working Group met in Geneva in November 2020 to review US submissions.

Pittsburgh human rights advocates collaborated with other Human Rights Cities to provide documentation and recommendations for this review of the US human rights record (See: UPR Cities Project). As part of this work, local advocates produced and submitted to the UN a UPR report on the state of human rights in Pittsburgh.

The analyses and recommendations contained in this report help to promote public awareness and policy responses to our regional human rights conditions and to build political will — i.e., a broad-based political constituency that is vocal and active in support and defense of human rights for all residents. A key goal of the UPR Cities initiative is movement-building to build the political will, skills, and collective momentum to carry out these recommendations and re-orient our community so that human rights are the top priority— not a by-product of economic growth and conventional “development.” We want UPR Report to support the ongoing work by community and grassroots organizations and to broaden our networks of mutual support and cooperation for human rights.

2019 Pittsburgh UPR Task Force

  • Alliance for Police Accountability
  • Casa San Jose
  • Green Party of Allegheny County
  • Hill District Consensus Group
  • Pittsburgh for CEDAW
  • Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance
  • Just Harvest
  • City of Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission & Gender Equity Commission
  • Urbankind Institute
  • Others

Submissions to the United Nations

Community Forums

The 2019 UPR Pittsburgh Task Force held a series of community forums to inform our submission to the United Nations. These forums also served to raise consciousness and build community engagement around human rights advocacy.

National Lobby Days

The UN Universal Periodic Review of the United States human rights record provides an important opportunity to build support for more people-centered national and local policies. Following submission of evidence and reports to the UN as part of this process, Pittsburgh sent delegations of grassroots human rights defenders to lobby UN officials to bring our human rights priorities and recommendations into the official proceedings of the US Universal Periodic Review.

These delegations illustrate the powerful work of grassroots human rights activists to show the international community that US residents believe in human rights and are working hard to “bring them home!” We know from past work that grassroots organizers can have a powerful impact on the thinking of international officials, and the experience of seeing the United Nations in action can help our movements develop creative ideas for using these mechanisms to build power. Working together, we can amplify our voices in the global conversation about how we can improve human rights conditions for more of the world’s people.

UPR Lobby Delegation to Washington DC: February 2020

Casa San José made it possible for us to send a delegation to Washington DC to bring the messages about human rights conditions in our region to embassy representatives advising their governments about the upcoming UN human rights assessment of the United States. Most of our delegation were young people, including two high school students from Casa San José. Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Hill District Consensus Group, Pgh for CEDAW, and the Peoples Campaign for Reparations and Black Self-Determination also sent representatives. The delegates we met were keenly interested in learning about conditions on the ground, and they were also excited to learn of our work to organize nationally around the UPR process. We put forward suggestions for recommendations we hope they will emphasize in the US report, which we can then use as tools for our advocacy.

Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights City Leadership Summit in Atlanta: May 2023

With support from the Heinz Foundation, a Pittsburgh delegation of over 30 community organizers, advocates, and activists attended the Human Rights City Leadership Summit in Atlanta's Georgia State University College of Law from May 18-21. The delegation convened with UN Officials, civil leaders, and other grassroots organizers to explore innovative policy solutions and good practices to "bring human rights home!" See our Press Release.

Press

Cross-City and Global Initiative for Human Rights Cities

Return to Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance Page

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