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'''News & Updates''' <br/>
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</big>*'''Save the Date! 5th Annual Human Rights Cookout! Sunday August 25, 1:00-4:00PM'''</big>
*'''UN Official Confronts Governments and Corporations on Housing Rights''': Last week, the [https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/HousingIndex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing], Leilani Farha held a press conference in Copenhagen to speak about letters released (see links below) to governments and corporations around the world including the United States and the Blackstone Group L.P. Ms. Farha spoke out directly against policies and laws which support housing as a commodity. In the letters to various governments, Ms. Farha stated that these policies and laws contradict governments’ international human rights obligations. Letters: [[:File:March_2019_Housing_UN_Rapp_USLetter_Financialization.pdf|UN Special Rapporteur Letter to US Government On Housing Policies as Human Rights Violations]], [https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Housing/Financialization/OL_OTH_17_2019.pdf Letter to Blackstone Investment Corporation], [https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Housing/Financialization/Reply_OL_OTH_17_2019.pdf Blackstone's response]. '''Campaign links''' [http://www.unhousingrapp.org/the-shift #MaketheShift] '''#HousingisaHumanRight'''!
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Mellon Park shelter, Penn & Fifth (across from Bakery Square). Everyone of all ages is welcome! We'll have food to grill. Bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish. BYOB. (More details below) <br/> [https://www.facebook.com/events/433315957254944/ See our Event page!]
  
*'''Pittsburgh’s [http://pittsburghunited.org/ourwater/ Our Water Campaign] goes Global:''' The current issue of the Open Access [http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/jwsr ''Journal of World-Systems Research''] features a symposium on the problem of corporate power and its implications for local democracy. This project was inspired by the recent inter-city competition to host the Amazon 2nd headquarters. See: [http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/jwsr/article/view/899 "Water is a Human Right! Grassroots Resistance to Corporate Power!"] (by local water activist Caitlin Schroering).
+
</big>*'''Human Rights Assessment-Pittsburgh and the Nation'''</big>
 
+
Together with human rights defenders around the country, Pittsburgh residents are working to bring the stories and accounts of human rights conditions in our region to the United Nations through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Over 2019-2020, the United States human rights record will be reviewed by international representatives and human rights experts, and the UN will issue a formal report with recommendations to the US government for improving respect for the country's international human rights obligations. A key to the UPR's effectiveness is engagement from civil society, and we're working to provide opportunities for residents to learn about human rights and the UPR process as we generate ideas for how we can make Pittsburgh and Southwest PA places where human rights thrive.  
*[http://pgh4cedaw.org/the-ngo-committee-on-the-status-of-women-new-york-is-proud-to-announce-mayor-william-peduto-2019-recipient-cities-for-cedaw-global-leadership-award/ '''Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition helps bring Pittsburgh Human Rights Recognition'''] In March 2019, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/New York awarded Mayor Peduto the '''Cities for CEDAW Global Leadership Award''' for his work to implement sustaining policies which eliminate all forms of discrimination against women at the local level. This award would not have been possible without all the hard work of [http://pgh4cedaw.org/ PGH for CEDAW Coalition] members to push for the CEDAW ordinance and to design policy recommendations that would ensure its effective implementation.
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*[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.
*[[:file:Housing_Justice_Meeting_Summary_March_2019.pdf|Summary of lessons from Housing Justice Movement-Building work 2016-2019]] This document provides a synthesis of ideas from conversations about how to advance the human right to housing and challenge market-oriented policies that continue to displace residents.
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*For more details see the [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project UPR Cities Initiative].
*''Print'' [[:file:Media_Print_coverage_of_Racial_Justice_Summit_2019.pdf|Media coverage of Racial Justice Summit]]- This report highlights our breakout session at the 2019 Summit, "Building an Intersectional Movement for Housing Justice"
 
*Pittsburgh City Council and Mayor Peduto [[:File:Human_Rights_Day_2018_Proclamation_for_Human_Rights_Final_Edit.pdf|re-affirm their commitment to human rights]] at the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ([[:file:Human_Rights_Day_2018_Press_Release_Final.pdf|See Press Release December 10]])
 
* '''[[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|Annual Report 2017]]''' --See what we accomplished last year!
 
* '''[[National Human Rights Cities Alliance Workshop 2018, Washington DC]]'''
 
<br />
 
 
 
'''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Human_Rights_Budgeting_Resource_Page Human Rights Budgeting-Ideas and Resources for transforming how our city plans]''': This page shares links and background resources about how activists around the world are working to change the scripts of local politics to prioritize human rights over economic measures of progress. We believe that urban planning and development should be explicit in its attention to human rights and equity. More democratic budgeting processes are key to making this happen, and that means we all need to learn more about how city budgeting works and how it could be re-organized to engage more of the people who live in our region.
 
  
==='''Calendar'''===<big>
 
'''April is Fair Housing Month!'''<br/></big>
 
<big>[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Justice_Pittsburgh#Building_community_power_to_fight_displacement_and_promote_our_.22Right_to_the_City..22 '''Housing Justice Movement Building''']</big><br />
 
'''Tuesday April 16, 6:00PM '''[https://cec.pitt.edu/homewood/ Community Engagement Center, Homewood] 622 N Homewood Ave. Pittsburgh [https://www.facebook.com/events/2162736980477520 Event page]<br /> ''AND/ OR come to'' 
 
'''Saturday April 20, 10:30AM-12:30PM''' (Human Services Building, 1 Smithfield St. Downtown PGH) [https://www.facebook.com/events/512667179267246 Event page]
 
''Movement-building for a Just and Livable City for All'' – Help us build a broad-based movement to support affordable housing in Pittsburgh. We will advance a [https://ota.dc.gov/publication/tenant-bill-rights tenant bill of rights] and other projects to increase community awareness of the struggles of Pittsburgh’s growing population of residents struggling to remain in the city they call home. This community meeting will aim to develop strategies for advancing housing justice in our region, building on networks and ideas from two housing summits (2016 and 2018) and Racial Justice Summits. We’ll discuss specific projects that can help us link with national and international housing rights advocates and move from reacting to threats towards promoting transformative change. Access to quality housing is a human right and should not be contingent on people’s ability to afford rising market rates. '''Meeting content will overlap, so choose one meeting or come to both if you wish.''' For more information or questions contact pghrights [at] riseup [dot] net. <br/><br/>
 
  
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==='''Calendar'''===
  
'''Wednesday April 24 5:30-8:30PM,''' Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. '''Worthy of Investment: The problem with devaluation of communities of color,''' with Dr. [https://www.brookings.edu/experts/andre-m-perry/ Andre M. Perry], followed by a presentation by the AFFH Task Force. Co-Sponsored by the City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations.
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*'''Sunday August 25, 1:00-4:00PM''': '''Annual Human Rights Cookout/Potluck.''' Mellon Park shelter, Penn & Fifth (across from Bakery Square). Everyone of all ages is welcome! We'll have food to grill. Optional -Bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish. BYOB. Co-sponsors: Penn Plaza Support and Action Coalition, Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Casa San Jose, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition, Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance, City of Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission, City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations.
  
'''Thursday May 2, 7:00PM''' Film & discussion: [https://battleofhomestead.org/bhf/event/separated-children-at-the-border/ Separated: Children at the Border] Location: Historic Pump House 880 East Waterfront Drive Munhall, PA. PBS Frontline documentary film about the history of immigration policy under both the Obama and Trump administrations. It focuses on what happened to Central American families whose children were forcibly separated from their parents and other relatives at the border. In interviews with parents, government officials, activists, and others, the story of what is happening at the southern border is traced. This history highlights important dates and issues, speaks of legal and illegal immigration, repeats myths, and refutes some of the misinformation that surrounds this issue. Hosted by [https://battleofhomestead.org/bhf/ Battle of Homestead Foundation].
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*'''Wednesday September 4, 6:00-8:00PM''' '''''General Meeting'''''-Carnegie Library/ East Liberty 130 S Whitfield St. Help us plan for [https://www.habitants.org/zero_evictions_campaign Zero Evictions Days] in Pittsburgh, learn about [http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=UPR_Cities_Project#UPR_Cities_Webinars UPR Cities in Pittsburgh] and find out how you and your organization can help support efforts to make Pittsburgh a true Human Rights City! For more information, contact us at pghrights [at] riseup [dot] net.
  
'''Saturday, May 4 1:30PM''' [https://battleofhomestead.org/bhf/event/separated-at-the-border-its-impact-in-pittsburgh/ Family Separation at the Border: Its Impact on Pittsburgh, a “Welcoming City”], Location: Historic Pump House 880 East Waterfront Drive Munhall, PA. This program, hosted by the [https://battleofhomestead.org/bhf/ Battle of Homestead Foundation], looks at the impact of current U.S. immigration policies on Central American immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. Like other immigrants before them, today’s immigrants are searching for a better life, freedom from violence, and economic security. Although immigrants in the past were often encouraged to enter the U.S. legally and then become productive citizens, today many face insurmountable obstacles at U.S. borders. Many immigrants are being detained, imprisoned, and deported. Meanwhile, without due process, approximately 5,000 children have been cruelly separated from their families. Speakers: Monica Ruiz, Executive Director of the Casa San Jose, and Guillermo Perez, US Steel Labor Educator and Founder/President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Labor Council for Latin American Development.
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*'''Monday September 16, 6:00-8:00PM''' '''''Human Rights Community Forum: The Human Right to Housing'''''- 1 Smithfield Street, Downtown PGH, Liberty Room. Join organizers and residents in a discussion of the human right to housing and how local conditions stack up to international legal obligations. Participate in our work to bring Pittsburgh voices into the United Nation's "Universal Periodic Review" of the U.S. human rights record. We will work to identify recommendations for changes at local and national level to strengthen human rights protections in our region. '''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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*'''Future Human Rights Community Forums''' October 14 (Policing), November 11 (Health), December 2 (TBD). ''All Community Forums are from 6-8PM at 1 Smithfield St. Downtown Pgh''
  
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*'''Housing justice actions--Support Penn Plaza residents and to stop development that displaces residents from our city and undermines our communities. [https://www.facebook.com/PennPlazaSupport/ See PPSA website for details of upcoming actions]
  
 
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====Other meetings====
'''Other meetings'''
 
 
*'''[https://www.pittsburghforpublictransit.org/ Pittsburghers for Public Transit]''' second Wednesday of each month at 7pm at 1 Smithfield Street (Pittsburgh Health and Human Services Building) downtown.  
 
*'''[https://www.pittsburghforpublictransit.org/ Pittsburghers for Public Transit]''' second Wednesday of each month at 7pm at 1 Smithfield Street (Pittsburgh Health and Human Services Building) downtown.  
*'''[https://pennplaza.wordpress.com/ Penn Plaza Support and Action Coalition]''' every Monday. For details contact pennplazacoalition@gmail.com.
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*'''[https://pennplaza.wordpress.com/ Penn Plaza Support and Action Coalition]''' every Monday, 6:00PM, 115 Beatty St. East Liberty.
 
*'''[http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/EwE/ni0YAA/t.2ju/MZ5FhIuJRE6M67H8FS-nNA/h9/HE2UYZIDTZxfLuJ8qHDFiKcv9QeqMGLDJ3IrF8dj2B0Ouaw60AzJFHptdkvL7obNLtnqgKKygqGEz3GCaeb-2BejuSAvFe0lbbqDJcgXFmWtC-2F4OP5qFbK1yfFG5UZArja2rUcMykgMb7gDAlR3CoVTHq6R-2FV3WJuza27KcDVxiFAlu29p38dyAwSXFqBiE3cOCcz9NcUAg0RigmMyBPSsscV4-2BQ50OH6U-2BkjQJd28KcGH1MVKcVF9PH8aO64hDVT8AP6b8SGbKGTAB5AMbdr6pQjaBb55-2BObu-2B7JHVkIiF2upX6rAikS6G9RBQnNgtSKqz-2BoAT7bD82SwYBAfhxnNjbaJ7k5a3JxIivx-2BEJkPkNo-3D| Landless People's Alliance Monthly Gathering]''',Wednesdays at 5:30-7:00PM, Postal Workers Headquarters 841 California Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15202-2705
 
*'''[http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/EwE/ni0YAA/t.2ju/MZ5FhIuJRE6M67H8FS-nNA/h9/HE2UYZIDTZxfLuJ8qHDFiKcv9QeqMGLDJ3IrF8dj2B0Ouaw60AzJFHptdkvL7obNLtnqgKKygqGEz3GCaeb-2BejuSAvFe0lbbqDJcgXFmWtC-2F4OP5qFbK1yfFG5UZArja2rUcMykgMb7gDAlR3CoVTHq6R-2FV3WJuza27KcDVxiFAlu29p38dyAwSXFqBiE3cOCcz9NcUAg0RigmMyBPSsscV4-2BQ50OH6U-2BkjQJd28KcGH1MVKcVF9PH8aO64hDVT8AP6b8SGbKGTAB5AMbdr6pQjaBb55-2BObu-2B7JHVkIiF2upX6rAikS6G9RBQnNgtSKqz-2BoAT7bD82SwYBAfhxnNjbaJ7k5a3JxIivx-2BEJkPkNo-3D| Landless People's Alliance Monthly Gathering]''',Wednesdays at 5:30-7:00PM, Postal Workers Headquarters 841 California Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15202-2705
  
 
=='''Housing Justice'''==
 
=='''Housing Justice'''==
 +
*'''[http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_is_a_Human_Right! Housing is a Human Right-Letter to Officials]''' The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Leilani Farha, recently directed letters to governments and corporate leaders around the world, pointing out how prevailing policies violate international human rights obligations. This page has details and a template for contacting your local leaders to remind them of their international legal obligations.
 
*'''[[Housing Justice Pittsburgh]]''' Building community power to fight displacement and promote our "Right to the City."  
 
*'''[[Housing Justice Pittsburgh]]''' Building community power to fight displacement and promote our "Right to the City."  
 
*[http://housingsummitpgh.org/ Housing Summit 2018] Area organizations are working together to build a broad alliance for affordable housing in our region. Mark your calendars for our '''November 10, 2018 Housing Summit''', and watch for a series of events and activities aimed to develop new strategies for addressing Pittsburgh's housing crisis.
 
*[http://housingsummitpgh.org/ Housing Summit 2018] Area organizations are working together to build a broad alliance for affordable housing in our region. Mark your calendars for our '''November 10, 2018 Housing Summit''', and watch for a series of events and activities aimed to develop new strategies for addressing Pittsburgh's housing crisis.
 
*[[:file:Housing_as_a_Human_Right.pdf|Housing is a Human Right: Slideshow]]''' on international treaties and opportunities to promote the [[:file:Housing_as_a_Human_Right.pdf|human right to housing]]<br /> <span style="display: block; text-align: center"><br /> </span>
 
*[[:file:Housing_as_a_Human_Right.pdf|Housing is a Human Right: Slideshow]]''' on international treaties and opportunities to promote the [[:file:Housing_as_a_Human_Right.pdf|human right to housing]]<br /> <span style="display: block; text-align: center"><br /> </span>
  
 
+
*[[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City|Forged for All? the Amazon HQ2 Debate & the Future of Pittsburgh]]
==[[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City|Forged for All? the Amazon HQ2 Debate & the Future of Pittsburgh]]==
 
 
Learn more about how Amazon's bid to move to Pittsburgh would affect human rights here. Resources, data, and recordings of community forums.  
 
Learn more about how Amazon's bid to move to Pittsburgh would affect human rights here. Resources, data, and recordings of community forums.  
 
*View '''community forums''' on the question of how an Amazon HQ2 would impact us:  
 
*View '''community forums''' on the question of how an Amazon HQ2 would impact us:  
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===[http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=International_Human_Rights_Monitoring International Human Rights Monitoring]===
 
===[http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=International_Human_Rights_Monitoring International Human Rights Monitoring]===
 
This page links to work by national and international human rights organizers to use international treaties and United Nations human rights review processes to hold local and national officials in the United States accountable to our international human rights obligations.
 
This page links to work by national and international human rights organizers to use international treaties and United Nations human rights review processes to hold local and national officials in the United States accountable to our international human rights obligations.
 +
 +
 +
===News & Updates===
 +
*'''UN Official Confronts Governments and Corporations on Housing Rights''': Recently, the [https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/HousingIndex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing], Leilani Farha held a press conference in Copenhagen to speak about letters released (see links below) to governments and corporations around the world including the United States and the Blackstone Group L.P. Ms. Farha spoke out directly against policies and laws which support housing as a commodity. In the letters to various governments, Ms. Farha stated that these policies and laws contradict governments’ international human rights obligations. Letters: [[:File:March_2019_Housing_UN_Rapp_USLetter_Financialization.pdf|UN Special Rapporteur Letter to US Government On Housing Policies as Human Rights Violations]], [https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Housing/Financialization/OL_OTH_17_2019.pdf Letter to Blackstone Investment Corporation], [https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Housing/Financialization/Reply_OL_OTH_17_2019.pdf Blackstone's response]. '''Campaign links''' [http://www.unhousingrapp.org/the-shift #MaketheShift] '''#HousingisaHumanRight'''!
 +
**'''We're working to get this message to Mayor Peduto and other public officials''': If your organization wants to sign this [[:file:Cover_Letter_PGH_Special_Rap_Letter_on_Housing_and_Human_Rigths_March_2019.pdf|*letter to public officials*]] please contact us at pghrights[at]riseup[dot]net or via Facebook PGHrights.  For more details see '''[http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_is_a_Human_Right! Housing is a Human Right!]'''
 +
 +
*'''Pittsburgh’s [http://pittsburghunited.org/ourwater/ Our Water Campaign] goes Global:''' The current issue of the Open Access [http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/jwsr ''Journal of World-Systems Research''] features a symposium on the problem of corporate power and its implications for local democracy. This project was inspired by the recent inter-city competition to host the Amazon 2nd headquarters. See: [http://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/jwsr/article/view/899 "Water is a Human Right! Grassroots Resistance to Corporate Power!"] (by local water activist Caitlin Schroering).
 +
 +
*[http://pgh4cedaw.org/the-ngo-committee-on-the-status-of-women-new-york-is-proud-to-announce-mayor-william-peduto-2019-recipient-cities-for-cedaw-global-leadership-award/ '''Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition helps bring Pittsburgh Human Rights Recognition'''] In March 2019, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/New York awarded Mayor Peduto the '''Cities for CEDAW Global Leadership Award''' for his work to implement sustaining policies which eliminate all forms of discrimination against women at the local level. This award would not have been possible without all the hard work of [http://pgh4cedaw.org/ PGH for CEDAW Coalition] members to push for the CEDAW ordinance and to design policy recommendations that would ensure its effective implementation.
 +
*[[:file:Housing_Justice_Meeting_Summary_March_2019.pdf|Summary of lessons from Housing Justice Movement-Building work 2016-2019]] This document provides a synthesis of ideas from conversations about how to advance the human right to housing and challenge market-oriented policies that continue to displace residents. ‎
 +
*''Print'' [[:file:Media_Print_coverage_of_Racial_Justice_Summit_2019.pdf|Media coverage of Racial Justice Summit]]- This report highlights our breakout session at the 2019 Summit, "Building an Intersectional Movement for Housing Justice"
 +
*Pittsburgh City Council and Mayor Peduto [[:File:Human_Rights_Day_2018_Proclamation_for_Human_Rights_Final_Edit.pdf|re-affirm their commitment to human rights]] at the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ([[:file:Human_Rights_Day_2018_Press_Release_Final.pdf|See Press Release December 10]])
 +
* '''[[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|Annual Report 2017]]''' --See what we accomplished last year!
 +
* '''[[National Human Rights Cities Alliance Workshop 2018, Washington DC]]'''
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<br />
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'''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Human_Rights_Budgeting_Resource_Page Human Rights Budgeting-Ideas and Resources for transforming how our city plans]''': This page shares links and background resources about how activists around the world are working to change the scripts of local politics to prioritize human rights over economic measures of progress. We believe that urban planning and development should be explicit in its attention to human rights and equity. More democratic budgeting processes are key to making this happen, and that means we all need to learn more about how city budgeting works and how it could be re-organized to engage more of the people who live in our region.
  
 
=='''Take Action:'''</span><br /> ==
 
=='''Take Action:'''</span><br /> ==

Revision as of 14:23, 19 August 2019

Human Rights City Alliance Logo -w TEXT- copy 4.png

Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of us"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance works to bring together diverse groups and individuals to help envision and realize a city that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people who live in our region. We work with local struggles to implement people-centered human rights in Pittsburgh.
About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance



*Save the Date! 5th Annual Human Rights Cookout! Sunday August 25, 1:00-4:00PM Mellon Park shelter, Penn & Fifth (across from Bakery Square). Everyone of all ages is welcome! We'll have food to grill. Bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish. BYOB. (More details below)
See our Event page!

*Human Rights Assessment-Pittsburgh and the Nation Together with human rights defenders around the country, Pittsburgh residents are working to bring the stories and accounts of human rights conditions in our region to the United Nations through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Over 2019-2020, the United States human rights record will be reviewed by international representatives and human rights experts, and the UN will issue a formal report with recommendations to the US government for improving respect for the country's international human rights obligations. A key to the UPR's effectiveness is engagement from civil society, and we're working to provide opportunities for residents to learn about human rights and the UPR process as we generate ideas for how we can make Pittsburgh and Southwest PA places where human rights thrive.


Calendar

  • Sunday August 25, 1:00-4:00PM: Annual Human Rights Cookout/Potluck. Mellon Park shelter, Penn & Fifth (across from Bakery Square). Everyone of all ages is welcome! We'll have food to grill. Optional -Bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish. BYOB. Co-sponsors: Penn Plaza Support and Action Coalition, Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Casa San Jose, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition, Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance, City of Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission, City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations.
  • Wednesday September 4, 6:00-8:00PM General Meeting-Carnegie Library/ East Liberty 130 S Whitfield St. Help us plan for Zero Evictions Days in Pittsburgh, learn about UPR Cities in Pittsburgh and find out how you and your organization can help support efforts to make Pittsburgh a true Human Rights City! For more information, contact us at pghrights [at] riseup [dot] net.
  • Monday September 16, 6:00-8:00PM Human Rights Community Forum: The Human Right to Housing- 1 Smithfield Street, Downtown PGH, Liberty Room. Join organizers and residents in a discussion of the human right to housing and how local conditions stack up to international legal obligations. Participate in our work to bring Pittsburgh voices into the United Nation's "Universal Periodic Review" of the U.S. human rights record. We will work to identify recommendations for changes at local and national level to strengthen human rights protections in our region. Food will be provided. See UPR Cities Initiative
  • Future Human Rights Community Forums October 14 (Policing), November 11 (Health), December 2 (TBD). All Community Forums are from 6-8PM at 1 Smithfield St. Downtown Pgh

Other meetings

Housing Justice

  • Housing is a Human Right-Letter to Officials The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Leilani Farha, recently directed letters to governments and corporate leaders around the world, pointing out how prevailing policies violate international human rights obligations. This page has details and a template for contacting your local leaders to remind them of their international legal obligations.
  • Housing Justice Pittsburgh Building community power to fight displacement and promote our "Right to the City."
  • Housing Summit 2018 Area organizations are working together to build a broad alliance for affordable housing in our region. Mark your calendars for our November 10, 2018 Housing Summit, and watch for a series of events and activities aimed to develop new strategies for addressing Pittsburgh's housing crisis.
  • Housing is a Human Right: Slideshow on international treaties and opportunities to promote the human right to housing

Learn more about how Amazon's bid to move to Pittsburgh would affect human rights here. Resources, data, and recordings of community forums.


International Human Rights Monitoring

This page links to work by national and international human rights organizers to use international treaties and United Nations human rights review processes to hold local and national officials in the United States accountable to our international human rights obligations.


News & Updates


Human Rights Budgeting-Ideas and Resources for transforming how our city plans: This page shares links and background resources about how activists around the world are working to change the scripts of local politics to prioritize human rights over economic measures of progress. We believe that urban planning and development should be explicit in its attention to human rights and equity. More democratic budgeting processes are key to making this happen, and that means we all need to learn more about how city budgeting works and how it could be re-organized to engage more of the people who live in our region.

Take Action:



Regularly scheduled meetings/ Local Human Rights Groups



Alerts & Updates

  • Campaign to Stop Plan to Increase Policing on Public Transit-- This campaign led by the Alliance for Police Accountability, Casa San Jose, Pittsburghers for Public Transit, and the Thomas Merton Center warns that the Port Authority's planned fare enforcement policy will unfairly impact communities of color, increase the problematic trend of criminalizing young people, and threaten immigrant residents.The campaign is calling for civilian fare enforcers rather than armed Port Authority Police and a citation process rather than a criminal process to deal with fare evasion (See FAQs for more information). Community organizations and individuals are asked to write letters to the Port Authority in support of this campaign (see sample letter).
  • PIttsburgh Public Schools Passes Sanctuary Resolution
  • Pittsburgh becomes 6th US City for CEDAW A broad coalition of human rights advocates helped advance a new ordinance enacting the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in our City, December 6, 2016. Stay involved in the work to carry out this commitment to better address needs of women and girls, families and communities in our city! www.pgh4cedaw.org


University-Based Projects

  • Pittsburgh area university faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to join the University Human Rights Network. We invite volunteers from different campuses to help support work on your campus and coordinate with other campuses.
  • Pitt Human Rights Initiative
  • Campus worker organizing: Pitt faculty, graduate student workers, and other workers are organizing for their rights and to support and protect the right to education. Keep informed about the campaign on their website and Facebook page


How to get involved

Please get in touch if you're interested in some of these ongoing projects or in efforts to follow-up some of these past initiatives. We are an all-volunteer group and are working to create spaces for residents to work together to envision and build a different kind of city and region. pghrights [at] riseup [dot] net.




NEW Research on Pittsburgh and Human Rights Organizing:
Responding to Globalization and Urban Conflict: Human Rights City Initiatives Studies in Social Justice

Dangerous Times: Defending Human Rights
Values are fragile. Because the values of human rights depend foremost on the ability to empathize with others”to recognize the importance of treating others the way we would want to be treated ”they are especially vulnerable to the demagogue's exclusionary appeal. A society's culture of respect for human rights needs regular tending, lest the fears of the moment sweep away the wisdom that built democratic rule. Human Rights Watch "World Report 2017: Demagogues Threaten Human Rights-Trump, European Populists Foster Bigotry, Discrimination."


Defend Pittsburghers' Right to Stay in their City! Housing Justice
**Affordable Housing Initiative:** **Pittsburgh Housing Summit** (Resources and links to recordings of plenary sessions) "Don't evict Pittsburgh!" Housing is a human right! The essence of our city is people and communities--not buildings, businesses, and tourist attractions.Homes for All Pittsburgh

*The Human Rights City Alliance works to promote and support activities of all human rights advocates around the region. Please contact us about relevant events/activities to share: pghrigts [at] riseup.net .

About the Human Rights City Alliance

How to Get Involved


Resources

Link to more resources--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work

People-Centered Human Rights: Analyses from Around the Nation and World


OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute-Human Rights in Pittsburgh and Beyond, Resource Page

Past events

World Food Day 2015: Watch video recording of October 2015 panel on the Right to Food
International Workers Day March for Immigrant Rights 2016 Statement of Unity and Solidarity


Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Website: pghrights.org Facebook: pghrights



https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights/
#pghrights
e-mail: pghrights [at] riseup.net

Universal Declaration of Human Rights booklet with Pittsburgh's Human Rights City Proclamation

YWCA Pledge Stand against racism


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