Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance - User contributions [en]

File:Unite vs Hate Oct 17 Event Flier.pdf

2026-10-05T20:19:58Z

Pghrights:

File:Rights Under Threat Oct 16 Flier.pdf

2026-10-05T20:15:48Z

Pghrights:

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-09-21T20:47:06Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

<big>'''[https://buy.stripe.com/00w00c5z43XP7yy5P88bS00 PLEASE DONATE to support our work!]'''</big> --''Our work is completely based on volunteers. We appreciate your help supporting programming and other costs related to bringing human rights culture and policy to our region.''

'''Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck-Sunday August 30'''
Everyone is welcome to attend the annual Human Rights Cookout and Potluck at Frick Park/Forbes & Braddock Shelter (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a volunteer-led networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/1/1a/HRCA_Pittsburgh_Organizing_principles_2025.pdf See our Organizing principles]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>

'''Fall General Meeting: Wed. Sept. 16, 6:00PM''' at Carnegie Library East Liberty. All are welcome to learn about current work and ways to get involved. (more details below)

:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Do you work at Pittsburgh area universities? We invite faculty, staff, and graduate students to help support human rights learning and praxis on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Wed. September 23 6:00PM''' '''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' At Carnegie Library East Liberty and hybrid [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/2972q1D9TGq7yIB-Mqzq1w Register to attend remotely]
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual Housing Justice Summit and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net
*: ''Note: CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.''

'''Rights under threat: The roles of cities and communities as human rights defenders"--Friday October 16 (3-5PM @ University of Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learning Rm 2017) & Saturday October 17 (10AM-2PM, Location TBA).
As political leaders fuel social and political divisions, our communities and local governments have become frontline defenders of community safety and the rights of all residents. To further knowledge and networks to address threats to human rights, we invite you to hear from local leaders and affected communities as we work to generate solutions. We know that threats to vulnerable residents are ultimately threats to all of us, and we hope you’ll join us during United Against Hate Week as we stand up to hate and unlawful repression and build the city we need. '''Co-sponsors:''' Human Rights City Alliance; Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations; Women & Girls Foundation; Casa San Jose; University of Pittsburgh Center on Race and Social Problems (Other partners TBA)

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-09-08T16:32:13Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

<big>'''[https://buy.stripe.com/00w00c5z43XP7yy5P88bS00 PLEASE DONATE to support our work!]'''</big> --''Our work is completely based on volunteers. We appreciate your help supporting programming and other costs related to bringing human rights culture and policy to our region.''

'''Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck-Sunday August 30'''
Everyone is welcome to attend the annual Human Rights Cookout and Potluck at Frick Park/Forbes & Braddock Shelter (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a volunteer-led networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/1/1a/HRCA_Pittsburgh_Organizing_principles_2025.pdf See our Organizing principles]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>

'''Fall General Meeting: Wed. Sept. 16, 6:00PM''' at Carnegie Library East Liberty. All are welcome to learn about current work and ways to get involved. (more details below)

:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Do you work at Pittsburgh area universities? We invite faculty, staff, and graduate students to help support human rights learning and praxis on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Wednesday September 16, 2026 6:00-7:45PM, Human Right City Alliance Fall General Meeting'''- at the East Liberty Carnegie Library (remote option). Find out about some of the human rights concerns and advocacy happening in our community. Learn about upcoming programming and how you can get involved in bringing human rights home to our community. (lite refreshments provided). [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/QQKIQdoJTP-j0s18HzYpGQ '''Register''' to join remotely].
*: ''Note: CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.''

'''Wed. September 23 6:00PM''' '''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' At Carnegie Library East Liberty and hybrid [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/2972q1D9TGq7yIB-Mqzq1w Register to attend remotely]
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual Housing Justice Summit and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-09-08T16:31:56Z

2026-08-26T13:17:01Z

Pghrights:

<big>'''THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''
</big>

INTEGRATE CONTENT FROM THESE PAGES

*[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Rights_Resources_Page Housing Rights Resource Page]
*[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Rights Housing Rights]
*[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Justice_Pittsburgh Housing Justice Pittsburgh]

'''Annual [[Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summits]]'''
The Human Rights City Alliance, in cooperation with various community partners, led work to host annual gatherings of housing justice advocates to promote networking, coordination, and learning about the forces contributing to housing inequities and unaffordability and how we can work together to build a powerful movement for housing and racial justice. The first "Annual" Housing Justice Summit was held at the University of Pittsburgh in 2024. This event built upon prior work by many of the same activists and networks that have come together to fight displacement and promote community control over housing in our region.

*[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2026_3rd_Annual_Housing_Justice_Summit 2026 Housing Justice Summit]
*[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit 2025 Housing Justice Summit]
:[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Housing_Justice_Resources_%26_Follow_Ups 2025 Housing Justice Resources & Follow Ups]

*Website from the 2016/2018 Housing Summits housingsummitpgh.org (We own domain and can use it) this URL redirects to our wiki:
[https://wiki.pghhousingsummit.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pgh_Housing_Summit 2016 and 2018 Housing Justice Summits]

University Human Rights Working Group

2026-08-26T12:55:33Z

Pghrights:

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block">''The purpose of the University Human Rights Working Group is to strengthen working relationships between Pittsburgh universities and community leaders working to address a variety of human rights concerns in our region. We work to amplify human rights on the city's and universities' agendas and promote public consciousness and discourse around human rights. We support collaborative networks that connect scholars, students, and community advocates to share and apply knowledge about advancing human rights in our region. By bringing diverse groups together and mobilizing university resources, we join in a community-wide human rights city process that empowers an informed and active human rights constituency in Pittsburgh.
*[https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university Join our email list] for announcements, news, events Note: We will not overwhelm your inbox!

<big>'''Our Work'''</big>

'''See all [[Past Working Group Activities and Reports]]'''

'''Reparatory Justice'''
:[https://www.worldhistory.pitt.edu/support/working-groups/transforming-systemic-racism-historical-truth-telling-and-reparations Transforming systemic racism: Historical truth telling & reparations working group]
:*Summary of [https://www.worldhistory.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/Reparations%20Nov%2016%20notes.pdf Conversations on the state of reparations organizing in Pittsburgh with local leaders Randall Taylor, Khalid Raheem, and Rev. Dale Snyder (Bethel AME Church)], Nov. 16, 2022.
:*[https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/news/essay-american-apartheid “American Apartheid: From diagnosis to treatment and prevention”]In this article in the ''University Times'', Working Group members Jackie Smith & Noble Maseru introduce the series and discuss connections to social science and public health research

'''Housing rights'''
:*In 2016, 2018 and 2024, we helped convene community Housing Assemblies on Pitt's campus, gathering a wide range of community leaders, national and globally recognized scholars of housing policies, along with residents, activists and students to learn together and explore the causes of housing insecurity and to support work for housing justice.
:*'''Global Human Rights Expert/Advocate Visits Pittsburgh, Meets City Leaders and Residents'''-April 2022, together with the City’s Commission on Human Relations, and Pitt’s Global Studies Center (and other co-sponsors) we welcomed global housing expert, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing, Leilani Farha to meet with Pittsburgh public officials, housing advocates, students and other residents. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf See our report on the visit], which highlights insights and recommendations from this visit with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift].

'''Supporting Community Learning and Empowerment'''
*University Working Group members helped support Pittsburgh activist and student engagement with the [https://humanrightscities.wixsite.com/hrca/hrc-leadership-summit 2023 Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta], organized by the [http://ushumanrightscities.org/ U.S.-Canada Human Rights Cities Alliance].

*'''Global Human Rights Reporting'''--''The University Human Rights Working Group supports local advocates in preparing submissions to United Nations Human Rights reporting mechanisms, providing opportunities for researchers and students to both learn about local human rights conditions and international human rights institutions and to help advance human rights learning in our community. Together with residents, we helped produce the following UN submissions.''

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Report on the Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania And Allegheny County], Input submitted to inform the country visit to the United States by the United Nations International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement (EMLER) (24 April – 5 May 2023)
:*[http://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/images/5/5f/CERD_Report_Pittsburgh_2022_Community_outreach_version.pdf Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh] (July 2022)-Report to United Nations Review of U.S. compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
:*[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]
:*[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]).''

=== University Human Rights Working Group Members ===
'''''Note:''' This list is no longer current, as we are a volunteer network and have been unable to process updates. The list is illustrative of the kind of members who have been part of this network, which continues to grow. To inquire about the work of this group or to ask to join the list, please contact info@theglobalswitchboard.org, with "University working group" as subject line. [List last updated in 2021]''

'''''Community Leaders''''' 
Marcia Bandes, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) 
Jason Beery, Senior Research & Policy Analyst, Urbankind 
Helen Gerhardt, Steering Committee member Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance and Pittsburghers for Public Transit 
Michael Goodhart, Director, Global Studies Center, Pitt & Advisory Board member, Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance 
Jam Hammond, Executive Director, [http://pittsburghpa.gov/chr/ City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations] 
Carol Hardeman, Community Organizer, Hill District Consensus Group 
anu jain, Executive Director, Gender Equity Commission, City of Pittsburgh & Founder, Inclusant Consulting 
Jamilah Lahijuddin, Youth Organizing Program, Hill District Consensus Group 
Dawn Plummer, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council 
Jessie Ramey, Chair, City of Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission & Director, Women's Studies Institute-Chatham University 
Carl Redwood Jr., Hill District Consensus Group, Vice-Chair, Board of Directors 
Monica Ruiz, Community Organizer, Casa San Jose 
Mike Stout, President, Izaak Walton League-Allegheny County Chapter & Former Grievance Chair, USW Local 1397, Homestead Works 
Randall Taylor, Penn Plaza Support and Action Coalition 
Laura Wiens, Director, Pittsburghers for Public Transit 
Teireik Williams, CMU CreateLab and South Oakland Neighborhood Group (SONG) 

'''''University Members''''' 
Lisa Alfredson Graduate School of Public and International Affairs 
Amy Bowman-McElhone, Department of Art History, Carlow University 
Peter Odell Campbell, Department of English Program in Composition, Literacy, Pedagogy, & Rhetoric 
Heath Cabot, Department of Anthropology 
Melinda Ciccocioppo, Psychology Department, University of Pittsburgh 
Lauren Collister, Director, University Library Systems Office of Scholarly Communication and Publishing 
T. Elon Dancy, Director, Center for Urban Education (CUE) 
Sabina Dietrick, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs 
Waverly Duck, Director, Urban Studies Program & Department of Sociology 
Daren A. Ellerbee, M.S., Director, [http://www.cec.pitt.edu/ Community Engagement Center - Homewood] 
[http://sci.pitt.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-directory/rosta-farzan/ Rosta Farzan], Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information 
Shanti Gamper, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) 
Erika Gold Kestenberg, School of Education Center for Urban Education 
[https://www.gspia.pitt.edu/faculty-and-staff/marcela-gonzalez-rivas Marcela Gonzalez Rivas], Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) 
Sarah Goodkind, School of Social Work 
Jordan Hayes, Department of English 
Holly Hickling, University Honors College Academic Community Engagement Advisor 
Cory Holding, Department of English 
Shenay Jeffrey, Outreach Coordinator, Office of PittServes, & Advisory Board member, New Voices for Reproductive Justice 
Jessica Kaminsky CMU - Center for Shared Prosperity, Senior Community Engagement Specialist 
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG9AJTsxq4A Michelle King], Learning Instigator, Teacher-Powered Pittsburgh 
Candice Kieffer, RDH MS, Dental Medicine Dental Hygiene Program (Pitt) 
Kari Kokka, Department of Instruction and Learning 
Mark Kramer, Senior Lecturer, English Dept 
Dan Kubis, Humanities Center “Public Humanities 
Sera Linardi, Associate Professor of Economics at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) 
Jules Lobel, School of Law 
Leslie Marshall, Associate Director of the Center for Sustainable Business, Katz Graduate School of Business 
Noble Maseru, Director, Center for Health Equity & Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion 
Dara D. Mendez, PhD, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health 
Scott Morgenstern, Department of Political Science 
Jordan Mroziak, CMU Center for Shared Prosperity, Senior Community Engagement Specialist 
Michael Murphy, Department of Sociology 
Illah Nourbakhsh, K&L Gates Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies at Carnegie Mellon University and director of the Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment (CREATE) Lab 
Paul Nelson, Associate Dean, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs 
Marily Nixon, School of Law 
Mary Ohmer, Community Organization and Social Action Program, School of Social Work & Center for Race and Social Problems 
Leigh Patel, Associate Dean of Equity and Justice in University of Pittsburgh School of Education 
Salvatore Pioer, Urban Studies 
Anne Rashied, Department of English and Director of Women's and Gender Studies, Carlow University 
Roger Rouse (Retired), Global Studies Center 
Jeffrey Shook, School of Social Work 
Sam Shepherd, Arts & Sciences Graduate Fellow, History Department 
Jackie Smith, Department of Sociology 
Fernando Tormos-Aponte, Department of Sociology 
Trevor Young-Hyman, Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Sociology in the Katz School of Business 
Molly Warsh, Associate Director, World History Center 
Eve Wider, Director, Millstein Library and Coordinator, Regional ULS Libraries 
Rashad Williams, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs 

**Project coordinator: Jackie Smith, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Sociology 

'''*Supporting roles''' *Jamie C. Ducar, Assist. Dir. Community Relations, Pitt Office of Community Relations 

 '''Activities''' 
*[[:File:Pitt_Human_Rights_Initiative_Annual_Report_2018.pdf| '''Human Rights Working Group Annual Report 2017-2018''']]

* [http://wiki.pghhousingsummit.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pgh_Housing_Summit Housing Justice -Housing Summit]
* Health, Human Rights, and Cities Initiative
* Campus Equity
* Dialogue Series: Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
**[https://pittnews.com/article/135500/uncategorized/global-issues-localized-human-rights-panel/ Opening Panel: '''Human Rights in Pittsburgh and the World''']
* Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City
**'''"[https://www.facebook.com/publicsource/videos/1888885241131365/ Pittsburgh's Economic Revitalization: Technology, Corporate Power, and Democratic Accountability" ]
**''''''[https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fplugins%2Fvideo.php%3Fhref%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252Fpublicsource%252Fvideos%252F1832226540130569%252F%26show_text%3D1%26width%3D560&data=01%7C01%7Cjgsmith%40pitt.edu%7C285d692e67d74ca6d38808d570e484ff%7C32794bf9854a4224a8c3408a105aeea1%7C1&sdata=K3KoWuvRO13YbyHrmYJ7bCXvakY2hWVRmgHffx%2BbrPI%3D&reserved=0 Human Rights, the Right to the City, and Amazon HQ2: Forged for all?]'''

* [[:file:DACA_Statement_-_HR_Working_Group.pdf|Open letter to Pitt Chancellor: Urging our universities to stand up for immigrant rights and DACA "dreamers"]]
** [[:file:DACA_Open_Letter_Response_summary.pdf|Summary of recommended Actions and University services for immigrant/DACA students]]
</div>

'''Meeting Documentation''' [[:file:Working_Group_November_2017_Meeting_Notes.pdf|November 2017]] [[:file:Advisory_Council_First_Meeting_October_30_2017.pdf|October 30 2017]]

More resources for housing rights

2026-08-26T12:43:45Z

Pghrights:

More resources for housing rights

2026-08-26T12:43:15Z

Pghrights:

**THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

INTEGRATE CONTENT FROM THESE PAGES

*[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Rights_Resources_Page Housing Rights Resource Page]
*[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Rights Housing Rights]
*[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Justice_Pittsburgh Housing Justice Pittsburgh]

*Website from the 2016/2018 Housing Summits housingsummitpgh.org (We own domain and can use it) this URL redirects to our wiki:
https://wiki.pghhousingsummit.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pgh_Housing_Summit

More resources for housing rights

2026-08-26T12:42:53Z

Pghrights: Created page with "**THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION INTEGRATE CONTENT FROM THESE PAGES [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Rights_Resources_Page Housing Rights Resour..."

**THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

INTEGRATE CONTENT FROM THESE PAGES

[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Rights_Resources_Page Housing Rights Resource Page]
[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Rights Housing Rights]
[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Housing_Justice_Pittsburgh Housing Justice Pittsburgh]

Website from the 2016/2018 Housing Summits housingsummitpgh.org (We own domain and can use it) this URL redirects to our wiki:
https://wiki.pghhousingsummit.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pgh_Housing_Summit

Pittsburgh Human Rights Housing Strategy

2026-08-26T12:38:58Z

Pghrights: /* Resources for developing a rights-based housing strategy */

==Pittsburgh Human Rights Housing Strategy==

In April 2022, Pittsburgh welcomed global housing expert, former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], Leilani Farha to meet with city officials, housing advocates, students and other residents. She pointed out that Pittsburgh’s development is being driven by increasingly global real estate investors and developers, who seek only to generate profits—not to ensure safe and adequate housing for Pittsburgh residents. To address our housing crisis, we need to develop a '''''human rights-based housing strategy for Pittsburgh'''''. This will require strong political leadership by and on behalf of residents and the city of Pittsburgh that syncs housing supply with residents’ needs and incomes. ''Whoever leads these decisions determines who can live and thrive here.'' We are working to build ''community control'' over our city’s housing policies.

Ms. Farha's visit generated a set of recommendations for how we can work to improve access to affordable housing in Pittsburgh and ward off new threats to existing affordable housing. We compiled [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf this report on the visit], highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help advance housing as a human right. ([http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf Download report PDF])

*[https://pad.riseup.net/p/PGH_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy-keep '''Housing Strategy and Action Plan Ideas'''] View and share ideas our community activists are generating as we build a resident-led conversation about our city's housing strategy. What should it look like? How can we build public awareness and support for people-centered housing?
::*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf Human Rights-Based Housing Strategy for Pittsburgh] ''Discussion draft''
:::*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/9/96/RHLS_business_exclusion_concept_paper_Damewood_RHLS.pdf Regional Housing Legal Services Concept Paper on Home Rule Charter Amendment]-''This document argues for efforts to reverse state policy that limits the ability of Pittsburgh's elected officials to regulate private actors who play key roles in shaping urban development and our access to affordable housing. Such authority is key to reversing racial inequities and ongoing displacement of housing insecure residents.''

=Resources for developing a rights-based housing strategy=
*'''[https://make-the-shift.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/G1800765.pdf Rights Based Housing Strategies]-Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing, Feb-March 2018-Demonstrates the case for a rights-based housing strategy, identifies 10 principles to guide such a strategy and recommendations for governments
*'''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-housing/guidelines-implementation-right-adequate-housing Guidelines for the implementation of the right to adequate housing]''' (UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, 2019 [A/HRC/43/43])
*'''[https://make-the-shift.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/The-Directives-Formatted-DRAFT4.pdf The Shift Directives on Financialization and Human Rights]''' (June 2022) The first-ever comprehensive framework providing governments and investors with guidance to effectively address the financialization of housing in accordance with human rights law.
:*[https://pushbacktalks.buzzsprout.com/1189295/10698890-the-shift-directives-taming-the-monster-with-human-rights Podcast/Leilani Farha Pushback talks- The Shift Directives - Taming the Monster with Human Rights]
:*[https://shelterforce.org/category/homes-or-cash-cows/ "Homes or Cash Cows?"] ''Shelterforce'' series on Financialization of housing. ''Financialization is a key driver of rising housing costs, and many properties sit vacant as 'financial assets' while people are unhoused. Governments can and must do more to prevent speculation on housing.

*'''Existing models of municipal human rights-based housing strategies''':
::*[https://www.kitchener.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/Documents/DSD_PLAN_Housing_For_All_Kitchener_Housing_Strategy.pdf Human-Rights Based Housing Strategy] -Kitchener, ON
::*[https://right2housingto.ca/rights-approach-to-housing/housingto/ Toronto Rights-Based Housing Strategy]
::*[http://www.bostonplans.org/housing/affirmatively-furthering-fair-housing-article-80 Boston’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Tools & Assessment form for developers]

*'''[https://www.fairhousingelements.org/audit Fair Housing Audit]''' Identifying housing needs, existing infrastructure, and property ownership is a key piece of our work.
:*[https://shelterforce.org/2022/11/14/tenants-rights-its-not-a-moment-its-a-movement/ Tenant Rights Movements are Growing and Key to Advancing Rights in the City] ''Shelterforce'' December 2022.
:*[https://shelterforce.org/2022/08/29/can-we-prevent-slumlords-from-buying-more-buildings/ Can We Prevent Slumlords from Buying More Buildings?] ''Shelterforce'' Aug. 29 2022
:*[https://citymonitor.ai/economy/who-owns-city-how-urban-real-estate-became-corporate-asset-class-choice-2330 Who owns the city? How urban real estate became the corporate asset class of choice] Saskia Sassen, City Monitor (Aug. 8, 2016)
:*[https://changemaker.blog.fordham.edu/who-owns-the-city-we-own-the-city-how-commons-makes-cities-more-inclusive-righteous-and-democratic/ Who owns the city? We own the city! How commons makes cities more inclusive, righteous and democratic], Ron Jacobson, (Oct. 27, 2016)-''Presents perspectives from diverse analysts on the city as a commons, and how housing politics impacts local democracy.''
:*[https://www.greens-efa.eu/opinions/who-really-owns-your-city/ Who (really) owns your city? How corporate landlords are using homes to make money] (Feb. 2022) European Greens review the state of affairs in Europe and offer ideas for challenging corporate landlord class and financialization]
::[http://extranet.greens-efa-service.eu/public/media/file/1/7461 Full Study – The Financialization of Housing In Europe “My Home Is An Asset Class” Daniela Gabor & Sebastian Kohl]

'''Critiques of Market-Driven Housing are becoming more mainstream'''
*[https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/our-government-runs-an-eviction-machine-to-benefit-landlords-lets-pump-the-brakes Our Government Runs an Eviction Machine to Benefit Landlords—Let’s Pump the Brakes] Fran Quigley, July 3, 2023 ''Commondreams.org'' ''Our state and local governments together operate a massive, ruthlessly efficient collection and repossession machine for the benefit of landlords.''
*[https://shelterforce.org/2023/06/30/social-housing-how-a-new-generation-of-activists-are-reinventing-housing/ Social Housing: How a New Generation of Activists Is Reinventing Housing] ''Shelterforce'' June 30, 2023. ''Not so long ago, social housing was rarely discussed in the U.S. Today. there are over a dozen social housing campaigns across the country.''
*[https://citylimits.org/2022/11/01/rise-of-the-shimby-new-reports-outlines-steps-to-social-housing/ Rise of the ‘SHIMBY’? New Report Outlines Steps to Social Housing] David Brand, November 1, 2022, [https://citylimits.org CityLimits], ''A [https://www.cssny.org/publications/entry/pathways-social-housing-new-york-20-policies-private-profit-public-good new report] describes the path to social housing in New York through 20 policy proposals, from overhauling the property tax code and abolishing the city’s tax lien sale to cracking down on landlord violations and boosting public funding for tenant organizing.'' ([https://www.cssny.org/publications/entry/pathways-social-housing-new-york-20-policies-private-profit-public-good new report] from the Community Service Society (CSS, a City Limits funder), co-authored by policy experts from the City Comptroller’s Office and University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP), outlines how the city can pursue a path to social housing through 20 policy proposals —from overhauling the property tax code and abolishing the city’s tax lien sale to cracking down on landlord violations and boosting public funding for tenant organizing.)

[[More resources for housing rights]]

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-08-13T19:21:24Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

<big>'''[https://buy.stripe.com/00w00c5z43XP7yy5P88bS00 PLEASE DONATE to support our work!]'''</big> --''Our work is completely based on volunteers. We appreciate your help supporting programming and other costs related to bringing human rights culture and policy to our region.''

'''Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck-Sunday August 30'''
Everyone is welcome to attend the annual Human Rights Cookout and Potluck at Frick Park/Forbes & Braddock Shelter (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a volunteer-led networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>

'''Fall General Meeting: Wed. Sept. 16, 6:00PM''' at Carnegie Library East Liberty. All are welcome to learn about current work and ways to get involved. (more details below)

:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Do you work at Pittsburgh area universities? We invite faculty, staff, and graduate students to help support human rights learning and praxis on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
'''Co-sponsored with''': City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Casa San Jose, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition, Pittsburghers for Public Transit, & Steel City Collaborative Housing.
*Download Flier [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5d/HRCA_August_30_event_flyer.pdf (English)] Download [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/60/Spanish_HRCA_August_30_Event_Flyer.pdf Flier (Spanish)]

'''Wednesday September 16, 2026 6:00-7:45PM, Human Right City Alliance Fall General Meeting'''- at the East Liberty Carnegie Library (remote option). Find out about some of the human rights concerns and advocacy happening in our community. Learn about upcoming programming and how you can get involved in bringing human rights home to our community. (lite refreshments provided). [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/QQKIQdoJTP-j0s18HzYpGQ '''Register''' to join remotely].
*: ''Note: CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.''

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

File:HRCA August 30 event flyer.pdf

2026-08-13T19:18:56Z

Pghrights:

2026-07-09T17:56:47Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
Co-sponsored with City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition & others

*Download Flier [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6c/HRCA_August_30_Event_Flyer.pdf (English)] Download [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/60/Spanish_HRCA_August_30_Event_Flyer.pdf Flier (Spanish)]

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

File:HRCA August 30 Event Flyer.pdf

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Pghrights:

File:Spanish HRCA August 30 Event Flyer.pdf

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Pghrights:

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-07-09T17:52:43Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
Co-sponsored with City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition & others

Download Flier (English) Download Flier (Spanish)

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-06-16T20:12:19Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Wednesday June 24, 6:00-7:30 PM-- Standing Up for Human Rights in our Community''' Human Rights City Alliance General meeting at Carnegie Library East Liberty§, Meeting Room #3- All are welcome to learn about ways to get involved to push back against the many threats to human rights and democracy. Help shape upcoming programs and activities & find out about ways to get involved working to build collective power to combat hate and strengthen our communities. [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/18w0AqQORYmJczFAY0SmTw Please register for online participation]

[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/c0/HRCA_Poster_June_24_2026_general_meeting.pdf Download flier]

:§CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.

'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
Co-sponsored with City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition & others

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-06-16T20:11:56Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Wednesday June 24, 6:00-7:30 PM-- Standing Up for Human Rights in our Community''' Human Rights City Alliance General meeting at Carnegie Library East Liberty§, Meeting Room #3- All are welcome to learn about ways to get involved to push back against the many threats to human rights and democracy. Help shape upcoming programs and activities & find out about ways to get involved working to build collective power to combat hate and strengthen our communities. [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/18w0AqQORYmJczFAY0SmTw Please register for online participation]
[https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/c0/HRCA_Poster_June_24_2026_general_meeting.pdf Download flier]

:§CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.

'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
Co-sponsored with City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition & others

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-06-16T20:11:28Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Wednesday June 24, 6:00-7:30 PM-- Standing Up for Human Rights in our Community''' Human Rights City Alliance General meeting at Carnegie Library East Liberty§, Meeting Room #3- All are welcome to learn about ways to get involved to push back against the many threats to human rights and democracy. Help shape upcoming programs and activities & find out about ways to get involved working to build collective power to combat hate and strengthen our communities. [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/18w0AqQORYmJczFAY0SmTw Please register for online participation]
[HRCA_Poster_June_24_2026_general_meeting.pdf Download flier]

:§CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.

'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
Co-sponsored with City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition & others

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

File:HRCA Poster June 24 2026 general meeting.pdf

2026-06-16T20:10:42Z

Pghrights:

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-06-16T19:12:42Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Wednesday June 24, 6:00-7:30 PM-- Standing Up for Human Rights in our Community''' Human Rights City Alliance General meeting at Carnegie Library East Liberty§, Meeting Room #3- All are welcome to learn about ways to get involved to push back against the many threats to human rights and democracy. Help shape upcoming programs and activities & find out about ways to get involved working to build collective power to combat hate and strengthen our communities. [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/18w0AqQORYmJczFAY0SmTw Please register for online participation]

:§CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.

'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
Co-sponsored with City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition & others

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-06-16T19:11:36Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Wednesday June 24, 6:00-7:30 PM-- Standing Up for Human Rights in our Community''' Carnegie Library East Liberty§, Meeting Room #3- All are welcome to learn about ways to get involved to push back against the many threats to human rights and democracy. Help shape upcoming programs and activities & find out about ways to get involved working to build collective power to combat hate and strengthen our communities. [https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/18w0AqQORYmJczFAY0SmTw Please register for online participation]

:§CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.

'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
Co-sponsored with City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition & others

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-06-15T21:18:40Z

Pghrights: /* Calendar */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''Wednesday June 24, 6:00-7:30 PM-- Standing Up for Human Rights in our Community''' Carnegie Library East Liberty§, Meeting Room #3- All are welcome to learn about ways to get involved to push back against the many threats to human rights and democracy. Help shape upcoming programs and activities & find out about ways to get involved working to build collective power to combat hate and strengthen our communities.

:§CLP is not the host or organizer of this event. CLP does not support, sponsor, or represent this group or event.

'''Sunday August 30''' '''12th Annual Human Rights Cookout & Potluck''' 1:00-4:00PM at Frick Park/ Forbes & Braddock Shelter
All are welcome to come meet our human rights community and learn about how we're working to "bring human rights home" to Pittsburgh. Sandwiches provided, bring a side dish or dessert to share if you wish.
Co-sponsored with City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, Hill District Consensus Group, Pittsburgh for CEDAW Coalition & others

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group -Contact for more details pghrights@riseup.net

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

File:UPR State and Local Impacts of Federal Policy Summary.pdf

2026-05-16T14:27:19Z

Pghrights: Pghrights uploaded a new version of File:UPR State and Local Impacts of Federal Policy Summary.pdf

File:UPR State and Local Impacts of Federal Policy Summary.pdf

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Pghrights: Pghrights uploaded a new version of File:UPR State and Local Impacts of Federal Policy Summary.pdf

File:UPR State and Local Impacts of Federal Policy Summary.pdf

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Pghrights:

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-04-22T15:41:54Z

Pghrights: /* Get Involved */

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
'' 
<big>[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ '''Subscribe for updates on events & action opportunities!]'''</big>
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from area universities can help support human rights learning on and off campus. [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!</big>'''
''Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all!'' [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf Download flier-help spread the word!]

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group --This group meets bi-weekly. Contact Leeretta Payne for details (pghrights@riseup.net)

'''Saturday April 18, 11:00AM-1:00PM--Advancing our Organizing for Tenant Rights and Social Housing''' University of Pittsburgh, Frick Fine Arts Center (Schenley Drive) Lunch provided.
Learn about work to strengthen tenant protections and affordable housing options in our region, including how you can get involved in supporting ongoing efforts by local housing advocates. Meet other activists and find out how you can help us build a broad movement to support affordable and safe housing for all of our neighbors. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHStSVtUySLFH0JwNTnNYBDi6qwY3POSl5MeqYAIPKwrQ_SA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105397072359102689167 Please register] [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf Download flier-help spread the word!]

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-04-21T20:15:35Z

Pghrights:

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
''<big>'''Subscribe'''</big> 
:'''[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ Subscribe to our newsletter]'''for updates on events & action opportunities!
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff and graduate students can [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!</big>'''
''Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all!'' [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf Download flier-help spread the word!]

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group --This group meets bi-weekly. Contact Leeretta Payne for details (pghrights@riseup.net)

'''Saturday April 18, 11:00AM-1:00PM--Advancing our Organizing for Tenant Rights and Social Housing''' University of Pittsburgh, Frick Fine Arts Center (Schenley Drive) Lunch provided.
Learn about work to strengthen tenant protections and affordable housing options in our region, including how you can get involved in supporting ongoing efforts by local housing advocates. Meet other activists and find out how you can help us build a broad movement to support affordable and safe housing for all of our neighbors. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHStSVtUySLFH0JwNTnNYBDi6qwY3POSl5MeqYAIPKwrQ_SA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105397072359102689167 Please register] [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf Download flier-help spread the word!]

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}

Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance

2026-04-21T20:14:41Z

Pghrights:

<div id="content_view" class="wiki" style="display: block"><div style="text-align: center">
[[Image:Human_Rights_City_Alliance_Logo_-w_TEXT-_copy_4.png|200px]] 

</div>Pittsburgh Human Rights City AllianceDignity & Justice for All of Us''"Human rights don't trickle down...they RISE UP!"'' 

'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!<big>'''
Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all (Details in calendar-below)!

=About Us=
<div style="text-align: left">
'''Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance''' (HRCA) The Human Rights City Alliance is a networking organization supporting cooperation and community learning that brings diverse groups and individuals together to advance [https://blackallianceforpeace.com/peoples-centered-human-rights ''people-centered human rights''] in Pittsburgh. We support the realization of our City Council's 2011 [https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= Proclamation declaring Pittsburgh a "human rights city"] by fostering local democracy, coalition-building, and a human rights culture that maximizes human rights and dignity for all people in our region. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/a/aa/Mission_Statement_2025.pdf See our mission statement]
 

*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Steering_Committee Human Rights City Alliance Board of Directors]
*[[About the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance]]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6a/Human_Rights_City_Principles_October_2017.pdf Human Rights Cities Principles]
:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b7/The_Human_Rights_Cities_Movement_Introduction.pdf Introduction to the Human Rights Cities Movement]
:*[https://wiki.humanrightscities.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources_for_starting_a_Human_Rights_City_initiative_near_you Resources for starting a Human Rights City initiative near you]
'''Contact us:''' pghrights@riseup.net

=Get Involved=
''We are a volunteer-led organization that supports collaborative efforts with community partners. To find out more or get involved, please contact us at pghrights@riseup.net.
''<big>'''Subscribe'''</big> 
:'''[https://a.lists.mayfirst.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/pghrights.lists.mayfirst.org/ Subscribe to our newsletter]'''for updates on events & action opportunities! Send an email with 'subscribe' in the subject to: pghrights-join@lists.mayfirst.org.
:'''[[University Human Rights Working Group]]''': Faculty members, staff and graduate students can [https://list.pitt.edu/mailman/listinfo/human_rights_university '''subscribe here'''].
:Follow us on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghrights '''Facebook'''] and [https://www.instagram.com/pghrights/ '''Instagram''']

=Calendar=
'''<big>April is Fair Housing Month!</big>'''
''Keep up the struggle to realize the vision of the 1968 Fair Housing Act! Join us [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf '''Saturday April 18'''] to discuss ongoing efforts to support racial justice, tenant rights, and a people-centered development policy that ends racialized displacement and promotes affordable, safe housing for all!'' [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf Download flier-help spread the word!]

'''Housing Rights Working Group meeting- (Bi-weekly)''' Next meeting TBA
This working group supports community learning and mobilization around housing rights and justice and supports campaigns being organized by the larger city-wide Housing Justice Table coalition. We support the annual [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/36/2026_Housing_Justice_Summit_Final_public_program.pdf Housing Justice Summit] and similar events. '''New volunteers are welcome to join this work!'''
*[[Housing Rights]] Working Group --This group meets bi-weekly. Contact Leeretta Payne for details (pghrights@riseup.net)

'''Saturday April 18, 11:00AM-1:00PM--Advancing our Organizing for Tenant Rights and Social Housing''' University of Pittsburgh, Frick Fine Arts Center (Schenley Drive) Lunch provided.
Learn about work to strengthen tenant protections and affordable housing options in our region, including how you can get involved in supporting ongoing efforts by local housing advocates. Meet other activists and find out how you can help us build a broad movement to support affordable and safe housing for all of our neighbors. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHStSVtUySLFH0JwNTnNYBDi6qwY3POSl5MeqYAIPKwrQ_SA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105397072359102689167 Please register] [https://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/40/A18_Housing_Rights_Organizing_Follow-up_Flier.pdf Download flier-help spread the word!]

<big>'''News''' </big>
'''December 10 is International Human Rights Day''' Public Statement: '''''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/f/f2/Human_Rights_Day_2025_Public_Media_Advisory_Public.pdf City governments and community advocates are building “firewall for freedom” in the face of human rights emergency]'''''

[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf '''Pittsburgh Activists travel to New York to testify to world leaders on housing rights and immigrant rights'''] -- ''Community leaders from Pittsburgh will speak to ambassadors from around the world to encourage them to press the U.S. government to improve local human rights conditions and support international law.'' [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=File:Peoples_UPR_Media_Alert_October_2025.pdf Read more]

: *Summer 2025: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/be/Media_Alert_Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Delegation_Travels_to_Washington_DC..pdf '''Pittsburgh Delegation Travels to D.C. to "appeal to the world" for human rights''']--Joining activists from around the country, local delegates will encourage foreign ambassadors to support recommendations for improving human rights conditions in our communities. The initiative is part of the United Nations peer-review assessment of the U.S. human rights record, known as the “Universal Periodic Review,” or “UPR.”

=Current Work=
The Human Rights City Alliance helps build alliances among individuals and groups in our area supporting human rights for all. We support local engagement in national and international human rights advocacy, and participate in UN human rights reviews of U.S. policies.

<big>'''[https://www.human-rights-cities.org/upr-cities UN Reviews of U.S. Human Rights]'''</big>

:We are currently involved in the '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home United Nations Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government]''' and have participated in filing two civil society stakeholder reports to the UN, including: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZog_U4otAUbIQPerliYhab3VKNhDm3S/view?usp=sharing ''Discriminatory Taxation Policies Obstruct the Realization of Economic and Social Rights in the United States''], and [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iGFOxCOYAtV-OcHs0qEvTolPNLs16kZZ/view?usp=sharing ''Housing and Homelessness in the United States'']. Our team continues to work with national allies to put pressure on the U.S. government and win support of international allies and human rights advocates.

'''Working Groups'''
Our current working groups focus on the following issue areas, and they are shaped by efforts of volunteers like you!

<big>'''Housing Rights & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is an active member of the [https://pittsburghunited.org/housing/ '''Pittsburgh Housing Justice Table'''], a coalition of allied local organizations and independent advocates who believe that housing is a human right and that everyone should have access to the housing they need. Our Housing Rights Working Group supports the work of the Housing Justice Table through related events, education and advocacy efforts.

:Through community engagement and conversations with Housing Justice Table coalition partners, HRCA developed '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy_and_Action_Plan_Discussion_Draft_April_2023.pdf A Human Rights-based Housing Strategy and Action Plan for Pittsburgh, PA]''' which serves as a guiding document for our housing advocacy. We want our goals and strategy to reflect the needs and perspectives of our community, which is why we invite residents to review the document and share input with us so that we can strengthen it. Send your comments to hrca@theglobalswitchboard.org or join us for our next working group meeting!

:You can learn more about the history behind our research and strategy conversations by reviewing our resource page, [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_Housing_Strategy '''Building Pittsburgh's Human Rights Housing Strategy''']

:[http://www.steelcityco-ophousing.org/ Steel City Collaborative Housing Association] Our Board members serve on the leadership of this initiative to support the development of cooperative housing in our region.

'''Highlights of past actions'''
:*(April 5, 2025), '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=2025_Pittsburgh_Housing_Justice_Summit#About Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit]'''
:*(April 4-7, 2022), '''Leilani Farha, the former [https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/housing/pages/housingindex.aspx UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Adequate Housing], visits Pittsburgh.''' Check out our [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf visit summary] highlighting insights and recommendations from our discussions with Ms. Farha, who now leads global housing rights organization, [https://make-the-shift.org/ The Shift]. Here you’ll also find helpful links to learning resources and legal tools to help us advance housing as a human right. [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/b6/Farha_visit_follow_up_recap.pdf (Download report PDF)]

<big>'''Immigrant Rights'''</big>
:HRCA partners with the Global Switchboard, Casa San Jose, and other organizations led by and supporting immigrants and immigrant rights. We also collaborate with advocates and experts in the National Human Rights Cities Alliance to uplift ways cities can organize locally to protect and strengthen immigrant rights.
:In January 2025, Our national counterpart, the [https://www.human-rights-cities.org/ Human Rights Cities Alliance] and Young Initiative on the Global Economy, Occidental College hosted a webinar on '''How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations,''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66c-ERuQr4 '''Webinar recording'''] [[How Cities Can Defend Human Rights in the Face of Mass Deportations]]

<big>'''Racial Equity & Justice'''</big> 

:HRCA is active as part of a broad coalition of community members and organizations committed to ending and redressing long-standing racial inequalities, inequities, and discrimination in the Pittsburgh region and beyond, recognizing that [https://migrationnetwork.un.org/statements/freedom-racial-discrimination-right-not-privilege Freedom from Racial Discrimination is a Right, Not a Privilege].

:This work includes raising awareness of the U.S. government's ''legal obligation'' to address racial discrimination under international law. For example, the U.S. ratified the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)] in 1994 and has thus legally agreed to comply with and implement its requirements.

'''Recent events & actions:''' 

:* (November 2023) HRCA members prepared an '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/c/ce/EMLER_2023_Report_Executive_Summary_%281%29_%28002%29.pdf Executive Summary of the UN Expert Mechanism's Report on Racial Discrimination in Law Enforcement]''' for local elected officials to raise awareness of the UN's investigation, conclusions, and recommendations following its U.S. Country Visit in April & May 2023.

:*(October 2023) HRCA organized a panel discussion of UN recommendations to end racially discriminatory policing and uphold human rights in the context of law enforcement. ''Event Panelists:'' Brandi Fisher (Alliance for Police Accountability), Tanisha Long (Abolitionist Law Center), Muhammad Ali Nasir (MAN-E) (1Hood Media), Laura Perkins (Casa San Jose). Read the UN reports: '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc54crp7-international-independent-expert-mechanism-advance-racial U.S. Country Visit 2023]''' & '''[https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5469-promotion-and-protection-human-rights-and-fundamental-freedoms Reimagining Policing 2023]'''. Event recording: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mln3pO5otIg UN Report Condemns Racial Discrimination in U.S. Law Enforcement: How does this relate to Southwest PA?]'''

:*(April 2023) HRCA joined the Alliance for Police Accountability and other advocates in submitting a report on policing and racial discrimination in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to the UN's [https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrc-subsidiaries/expert-mechanism-racial-justice-law-enforcement International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement] (EMLER) ahead of its visit to the US from April 24 to May 5, 2023. (Full report: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/e/ec/PGH_Report_on_Policing_to_UN_2023_BEST.pdf Treatment of People of African Descent by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County]''', Press release: '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/0/0e/Press_Release_Pittsburgh_EMLER_Submission_2023.pdf Local Advocates File Report on Police Discrimination in Allegheny County to UN Fact-Finding Body on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice]''')

:*(November 2022) HRCA assisted to facilitate a listening session with Justin Hansford, Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law and an elected founding member of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent]. For more details, review our summary [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/de/Summary_document_of_Taking_Back_Our_Human_Rights_Event_EDITED.pdf '''Taking Back Our Human Rights: Black Pittsburgh's Appeal to the World'''] and our '''[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Taking_Back_our_Human_Rights!_Building_a_Black_Regional_Agenda_for_Justice background page]''' for the event.

:*(July 2022) HRCA prepared and submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations CERD Committee (Full report: '''[https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCERD%2fNGO%2fUSA%2f49212&Lang=en Racial Discrimination & Equity in the United States: Evidence from Pittsburgh]''', Summary report: [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/4/44/CERD_Pittsburgh_2_Page_Summary_2022.pdf '''Summary Document'''])

:In 2011, the City of Pittsburgh issued a [http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/6/6e/Pittsburgh_Human_Rights_City_Resolution.pdf Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights City in the U.S.. While this represents a step in the right direction, much work remains to strengthen and actually realize the City's commitment and to create a City in which everyone can thrive. We’re drawing from examples in other cities such as Atlanta to bring stronger human rights commitments along with processes for monitoring and setting targets for advancing equity and protecting the rights of all residents.

'''Relevant Events & Actions'''
:*(December 10 2024) '''International Human Rights Day Press Conference & Proclamation'''. The Human Rights City Alliance assisted in bringing together City leaders, residents, and community groups to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to renew our shared commitment to using human rights as a path to building a just and equitable city in which everyone can thrive. The Mayor's office also issued and presented our proclamation recognizing Dec. 10 as International Human Rights Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

'''Relevant Documents''' 
*[https://pittsburgh.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=874003&GUID=EB31A893-F2F4-41DC-94FB-DAF1CB2DB0A2&Options=&Search= 2011 City Council Proclamation] declaring Pittsburgh a "HUMAN RIGHTS CITY."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/55/Final_2024_Proclamation_International_Human_Rights_Day.pdf 2024 Proclamation by Mayor Ed Gainey] recognizing December 10 as International Human Rights Day and "affirm[ing] the City's commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights and promote a culture of human rights in our City."
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/5/5b/Draft_Resolution_Pittsburgh_2023_HR_City_Update_Discussion_ver.pdf Draft Resolution to Renew and Update Pittsburgh’s Human Rights City Status]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/3/31/Gainey_Transition_Report_Response_Final.pdf Bringing a Human Rights Perspective to Mayor Gainey’s Transition Report 2022]
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/7/7c/Human_Rights_Day_2021_Gainey_Letter.pdf Message to Mayor-Elect Gainey on International Human Rights Day 2021] (Dec. 10)

:*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/d/d0/Pittsburgh_Press_release.pdf Pittsburgh Delegation Attends Human Rights Cities Leadership Summit in Atlanta, May 2023] - As part of our work with human rights cities and human rights advocates around the country and around the world, we brought a team of more than two dozen Pittsburgh activists, youth, and policy experts to Atlanta to learn, share, and network.

<big>'''Human Rights Education & Outreach'''</big> 

:A key focus of HRCA is raising awareness among civil society and elected officials of the [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms international human rights framework], and how we can (and should) use this framework to advocate for, monitor, and uphold "people-centered human rights" at home. This work includes building a movement of human rights enforcers and educating elected and government officials about their obligations under [https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-and-mechanisms/international-human-rights-law international human rights laws].

'''Relevant Documents''' 

:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
:*[https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights/international-bill-human-rights International Bill of Human Rights]

=Resources=
[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/index.php?title=Resources '''Link to more resources'''--toolkits, reports, and organizations supporting local human rights work]

=Annual Reports=
*[http://wiki.pghrights.mayfirst.org/images/b/bc/Annual_Report_2019.pdf 2019 Annual Report]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2017.pdf|2017 Annual Report]]
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2016.pdf|2016 Annual Report]]: See what we've done in the past year as we look forward to strengthening Pittsburgh activism for human rights in the year ahead!
* [[:file:Annual_Report_2015.pdf|2015 Annual Report]]

*Official [[Reports to UN Human Rights Bodies]] (multiple years)

=Past Events & Actions=
*[[Past Actions & Events]]

=Archive=
*[[Archive]]

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

=All Pages=
* [[Communication Justice Initiative]]
* [[Forums on Amazon HQ2 and the Right to the City]]
* [[Frequently Asked Questions]]
{{Special:AllPages}}