Recent Actions
Take Action on 10 December 2013 – International Human Rights Day!
We encourage you to take action during December as the Human Rights Month!
Dear friends,
Here are some ideas for actions to advance the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR), on or around December 10th.
As you may be aware, this December 10th is the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the OP-ICESCR by the General Assembly at the UN. This year we have achieved the first goal in our Campaign, the OP-ICESCR entered into force on 5 May, 2013! Individuals and groups of individuals—who have experienced of violations of their economic, social and cultural rights—finally have a remedy at the international level, 55 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 20 years after the Vienna World Conference reinforced the interdependence of human rights. In this context, we would like to both celebrate this achievement and make sure that all persons have access to this remedy by inviting other States to become party to the OP-ICESCR.
1. We attach a sample letters for you to use in communications with authorities in your country, if they have not signed the OP-ICESCR or if they have signed but not yet ratified the OP-ICESCR. We encourage you to send a version of the appropriate letter or a note of appreciation and celebration, if your government has already ratified. If possible, you might also consider using this important anniversary to arrange meetings with appropriate authorities. ModelLetterFinal2013-english.doc
2. We also have a video-message that Catarina de Albuquerque –former Chair of the Open-Ended Working Group on an Optional Protocol and current Special Rapporteur on Water and Sanitation-has prepared for us, celebrating the importance of this Protocol and calling on all countries to ratify. We encourage you to share and use this video in activities, events and actions at local level.
If you are able to send letters, schedule meetings with officials or take actions, perhaps utilizing this video, please let us know, send photos, and share the details. We would be excited to share it on our site and twitter.
Please also let us know if you have information on the ratification process in your country. This information is useful in shaping our actions and plans as Coalition. If you should have any question or comment, please feel free to write: ilarrosa@escr-net.org.
Thanks!
Ivahanna
September 24th, 5th anniversary of the opening to signatures and ratifications of the OP-ICESCR.
Take action now y beyond to call on your government to move forward and ratifiy the OP-ICESCR. More information
Take Action during May 2014 in celebrating the First Anniversary of the entry into force of the OP-ICESCR
Some ideas here: http://mad.ly/a071c4?fe=1&pact=22217356987