MISSION: The US Human Rights Network is a national network of organizations and individuals working to build and strengthen a people-centered human rights movement in the United States, where leadership is centered on the most directly affected by human rights violations, and the full range of diversity within communities is respected and embraced.
Jamil Dakwar: ACLU
Amy Bergquist: Advocates for Human Rights
Colette Pichon Battle: Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy
Presenters
◦ Update on the Review Process & Synopsis of U.S. Reply
◦ 10 Steps to Writing a Shadow Report
◦ Audience Q&A
◦ Next Steps in the Process and Available Resources
Agenda
10 Steps to Writing a Shadow Report
July 24, 2013Amy Bergquist
The Advocates for Human RightsColette Pichon Battle
Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy
10 steps◦ Set the stage (1-4)◦ Plan and gather information (5-7)◦ Implement (8-10)
“Case study” Questions
Overview
Step 1: Identify Your Expertise
Your issues Your advocacy
goals Your resources
◦ Who can help?◦ What can they do?
Enlist people to help as soon as you can.
Image source: scpr.org
Step 2: Identify Allies
Allied organizations or experts◦ collaborate◦ “sign on”
Other allies (networks, research institutions)◦ Information, tactical
tips Power in numbers
Step 3: Identify the Rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights◦ Relevant articles◦ “Each State Party … undertakes
to … ensure … the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. ” (art. 2(1))
Step 4: Review ICCPR Process Read up on what
has happened so far as it relates to these rights:◦ outcome of the last
review◦ US Government
report◦ list of issues◦ US Government
response
Step 5: Clarify Your Role You can shed more
light on these rights and related issues:◦ on-the-ground
information◦ first-hand accounts◦ reports◦ specialized
knowledge◦ other information
Step 6: Set Goals Committee’s in-
person review with the U.S. Government delegation in October 2013◦ questions◦ concluding
observations◦ recommendations
Step 7: Make & Implement a Work Plan Connect Steps 5 &
6 Gather information
◦ sources◦ credibility and
relevance Plan to use the
report beyond the UN review
Step 8: Write the Report
Set up a writing team Take information from
Steps 3, 4, and 7 Template Incorporate proposed
questions and recommendations (Step 6)
No “abusive” language
Step 9: Finalize and Submit Report Due to the
Committee Sept. 13, 2013
Optional:◦ Get stakeholder input
before you submit.◦ Recruit “sign-ons.”◦ Submit to USHRN by
Aug. 23, 2013 to be included in compilation.
Step 10: Advocate
In the UN review◦ Advocacy with the
Committee◦ Follow-up during the October
process◦ Advocacy for implementation
of recommendations Promoting longer-term
social justice◦ Report as a tool for
education and outreach
NGO Shadow Report Clustering Chart
ICCPR Shadow Reporting Template
Other Online Resources-www.ushrnetwork.org/iccpr-newsletter-3
Now What?: Next Steps
Visit us at: www.ushrnetwork.org/iccpr-newsletter-3To find:
◦ NGO Shadow Report Clustering Chart◦ Shadow Report Template◦ U.S. Reply to the List of Issues◦ Current and Past US Periodic Reports and
Concluding Observations◦ Past Training Call Audios◦ ICCPR Taskforce Work Plan◦ Much More
Other ICCPR Resources
Thank You!Visit our website to learn more about the Network:www.ushrnetwork.org
Visit our ICCPR newsletter page for all the resources discussed on the call and more:www.ushrnetwork.org/iccpr-newsletter-3
Email us at [email protected] with any ICCPR-related questions or issues.
Consider becoming a member of the Network:http://www.ushrnetwork.org/join-movement