Difference between revisions of "Learning from COVID-19:Shaping a Health and Human Rights Agenda for our Region"

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==Actions==
 
==Actions==
 
Our community forum series seeks to generate ideas and support for actions to enable us to learn from this crisis and better care for the people in our communities--particularly the most vulnerable residents.  
 
Our community forum series seeks to generate ideas and support for actions to enable us to learn from this crisis and better care for the people in our communities--particularly the most vulnerable residents.  
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'''Local'''
 
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/a4/Equity_Task_Force_Letter_to_Officials.pdf Letter to Mayor Peduto & County Executive Fitzgerald calling for a COVID-19 Social Equity Task Force]
 
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/a4/Equity_Task_Force_Letter_to_Officials.pdf Letter to Mayor Peduto & County Executive Fitzgerald calling for a COVID-19 Social Equity Task Force]
  
'''National actions''' ''Pittsburgh's Human Rights City Alliance is a member of the [https://www.ushrnetwork.org/ US Human Rights Network] (USHRN), and through this organization, we participate in national and global work to support human rights and "bring human rights home" to communities everywhere. The USHRN is active at this time to ensure that leaders are attentive to human rights during and following this pandemic.''
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'''National Actions''' ''Pittsburgh's Human Rights City Alliance is a member of the [https://www.ushrnetwork.org/ US Human Rights Network] (USHRN), and through this organization, we participate in national and global work to support human rights and "bring human rights home" to communities everywhere. The USHRN is active at this time to ensure that leaders are attentive to human rights during and following this pandemic.''
 
*The USHRN's [https://www.upr2020.org/ Universal Periodic Review Task Force] sent the following [https://2eb10dad-2dc6-4e35-8204-bfad7e9ec875.usrfiles.com/ugd/2eb10d_0539bfc959cd4bfc991113943546eff1.pdf?emci=a66e44af-cb88-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&emdi=cd55d06e-cc88-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&ceid=7966038 Letter to the U.S. State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Rights] reminding him of the obligations his office has to ensure that ''all levels of government-from Executive branch through state and local levels'' are informed of their human rights obligations under international law. The letter points to [https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/COVID19Guidance.aspx important guidance] and reminders from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, stressed  the universal obligation [https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25722&LangID=E not to misuse and abuse emergency powers].
 
*The USHRN's [https://www.upr2020.org/ Universal Periodic Review Task Force] sent the following [https://2eb10dad-2dc6-4e35-8204-bfad7e9ec875.usrfiles.com/ugd/2eb10d_0539bfc959cd4bfc991113943546eff1.pdf?emci=a66e44af-cb88-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&emdi=cd55d06e-cc88-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&ceid=7966038 Letter to the U.S. State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Rights] reminding him of the obligations his office has to ensure that ''all levels of government-from Executive branch through state and local levels'' are informed of their human rights obligations under international law. The letter points to [https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/COVID19Guidance.aspx important guidance] and reminders from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, stressed  the universal obligation [https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25722&LangID=E not to misuse and abuse emergency powers].
 
*Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance joined other human rights organizations in signing [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fszinAgdaMF300iOLYlXYF_wISkZQB5Rsta93NjrQ10/edit?emci=094b975c-7b89-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&emdi=0b739731-7c89-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&ceid=6023739 this letter to the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council], urging her to “ensure that the rights of people who are living in poverty, and of people experiencing homelessness, are explicitly referenced in the [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MSaAMCPgAd2ZBX-g2hecI91ZdKDq9zz8 draft Human Rights Council resolution] on the human rights implications of the COVID-19 crisis.” The letter points to how global human rights officials are working to make sure national officials center human rights in their responses to COVID-19.
 
*Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance joined other human rights organizations in signing [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fszinAgdaMF300iOLYlXYF_wISkZQB5Rsta93NjrQ10/edit?emci=094b975c-7b89-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&emdi=0b739731-7c89-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&ceid=6023739 this letter to the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council], urging her to “ensure that the rights of people who are living in poverty, and of people experiencing homelessness, are explicitly referenced in the [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MSaAMCPgAd2ZBX-g2hecI91ZdKDq9zz8 draft Human Rights Council resolution] on the human rights implications of the COVID-19 crisis.” The letter points to how global human rights officials are working to make sure national officials center human rights in their responses to COVID-19.

Revision as of 11:31, 29 April 2020

Learning from COVID-19:Shaping a Health and Human Rights Agenda for our Region

Groups around our community are coming together to build a strong people’s movement to ensure that we don’t go back to “normal” after the coronavirus pandemic subsides. The inequities and discrimination that existed prior to the pandemic have exacerbated the effects of the crisis, and historically oppressed groups have suffered disproportionately. We need to re-envision a society that prioritizes equity and the human right to health (including the social dimensions of health and well-being), so that every member of our community can live dignified lives.

When: Community Health Forums Alternate Thursdays, 4:00-5:30PM. April 16, April 30, May 14, May 28, June 11 Online (Meeting links will be provided here)

Actions

Our community forum series seeks to generate ideas and support for actions to enable us to learn from this crisis and better care for the people in our communities--particularly the most vulnerable residents.

Local

National Actions Pittsburgh's Human Rights City Alliance is a member of the US Human Rights Network (USHRN), and through this organization, we participate in national and global work to support human rights and "bring human rights home" to communities everywhere. The USHRN is active at this time to ensure that leaders are attentive to human rights during and following this pandemic.

  • On April 22, 2020, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights issued a statement warning that many States’ responses to COVID-19 have had devastating effects on people living in poverty.
  • On March 24, 2020, the Chairpersons of the ten U.N. Treaty Bodies called on States “to adopt measures to protect the rights to life and health, and to ensure access to health care to all who need it, without discrimination.” They urged governments to take extra care of those particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, including “older people, people with disabilities, minorities, indigenous peoples, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, people deprived of their liberty, homeless people, and those living in poverty.” (emphasis added).

Upcoming Forums

April 30, 2020 4:00-5:30PM: City Budgets in Tough Times: Ensuring Equity and Justice

  • Recently Mayor Peduto warned of coming budget cuts in the tens of millions of dollars, calling on Pittsburghers to share the needed sacrifices over coming years. Yet, in “normal” times, public officials care little about equity and shared sacrifice, and low-income neighborhoods and communities of color have seen steady disinvestment and cuts to public services justified by government austerity. Those same communities are now disproportionately called on to perform the “essential work” needed to sustain life and livelihoods during this pandemic. A post-pandemic “normal” requires real equity in budgeting, where we put the needs of those furthest behind first when allocating public funds. For too long the scarcity narrative has dictated our politics. We’ve been told that government austerity is needed to support “economic growth” that will “trickle down” to benefit all. COVID-19 has demonstrated the fatal flaws of this system that fails to support the essential work of caring and providing for the basic needs of our communities. This forum will explore lessons from activism around economic development and equity that can help us reframe the new austerity conversation to prioritize the needs of those long neglected. By centering dignity, equity, and human rights in budget discussions, and by employing more democratic and participatory processes in development planning, we reinforce the robust foundations we need for resilient and just communities. Facilitator: Jay Ting Walker, Green Party of Allegheny County

Confirmed speakers: Jamil Bey, Urbankind Institute; Carl Redwood, Hill District Consensus Group; Laura Wiens, Pittsburghers for Public Transit


Past Forums

April 16, 2020 Forum (View Recording): Panelists: Dr. Noble Maseru, Director, Center for Health Equity, University of Pittsburgh, Megan Stanley, Executive Director, City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Dawn Plummer, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council, Monica Ruiz, Executive Director, Casa San José.

  • Summary: Panelists and discussion outlined key challenges around racial disparities, housing, food justice, and the needs and challenges faced in immigrant communities. We began to identify lessons and strategies for building more responsive politics that include voices of Black residents and experts and developing better social safety nets. Questions emerged about how to build broader consciousness about human rights conditions, build cross-sectional peoples movements, and build capacities of marginalized communities.


Forum Co-sponsors: Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance, Global Studies Center (Pitt), City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations,Urbankind Institute University Human Rights Working Group