Introductory Webinars |
| NLCHP produced short weekly webinars introducing different features of the UPR process leading up to the review on November 5. Click on the links below to follow along! |
Introduction to the Universal Periodic Review
This webinar briefly introduces the features of the Universal Periodic Review and its relevance for domestic advocates. |
A Detailed Guide to the UPR Timeline
The second webisode in the UPR introductory series covers the timeline of events leading up to, and following the Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. in November, and where advocates can participate in the process. |
A History of the UPR
The third webisode in the UPR introductory series gives a brief history of the Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights Council.
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| The U.S. UPR Consultation Process - The fourth webisode in the UPR introductory series describes the nationwide series of consultations that preceded the UPR report. |
| Housing Rights in the UPR - The fifth webisode in the UPR introductory series addresses the right to housing concerns raised in the report submitted by organizations to the UN. |
Daily Reports from Geneva |
NLCHP Human Rights Director, Eric Tars, produced daily video reports from Geneva covering the events leading up to the Universal Periodic Review of the U.S. government. Click below to follow the action!
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Day 1 Report Back
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Day 2 Report Back
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Day 3 Report Back
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Day 4 Report Back
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Day 5 Report Back
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Final Wrap Up Report
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Housing Rights in the Housing Crisis Side Event Panel in Geneva |
NLCHP organized a side event in Geneva before the U.S. UPR. Below is partial video coverage of the event.
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Part 1 - Eric Tars from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty introduces the panel.
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Part 2 - Deborah Burton from the Los Angeles Community Action Network speaks on her own experience with homelessness and the needs in LA's Skid Row.
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Part 3 - Salih Booker from the Centre on Housing Rights & Evictions describes the international law applicable to the U.S.
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Part 4 - Salih Booker, continued
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Part 5 - Questions & Answers continued
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| Part 6 - Questions & Answers continued |
Part 7 - Questions & Answers continued
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UPR Documentation
Official Government and UN Documenation
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US Responses to UPR Recommendations , March 2011
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| Official UN webcast of the U.S. Review , November 2010 |
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US UPR Outcomes Report - Working Group Draft Version, November 2010
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| Response of the United States of America to Recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Council, November 2010 |
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| U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official statement on the United States' participation in the United Nations' Universal Period Review, November 2010 |
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U.S. National Report to the Human Rights Council, August 2010
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Housing Issues Documentation |
| During the review, in addition to a 20-page “national report” provided by the country under review and the reports of U.N. bodies, the Working Group considers reports from other “stakeholders” such as civil society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and national human rights institutions. NLCHP coordinated a 10-page Housing Issues Cluster Report to ensure housing rights issues are appropriately highlighted in the review. Recommendations in the report include: 1) expanding federal programs making vacant properties available for use as housing, 2) placing a moratorium on demolitions of public housing and mandating one-for-one replacement, and 3) removing policies that prevent people from accessing existing housing such as lifetime bans from housing assistance for minor arrests and policies which criminalize homelessness. This report will allow advocates to hold accountable the U.S. government for ignoring the recommendations already made by human rights experts. |
| Full text of the housing issues report, April 2010 |
| One-page summary of housing issues report, June 2010 |
| Summary of recommendations on housing issues made to U.S. during UPR, November 2010 |
Follow up letter to HUD on UPR recommendations, and Attachment on Specific Responses, February 2011
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Summary of U.S. responses to UPR recommendations on housing issues, March 2011
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News coverage regarding the housing issues report, April 2010
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Summary of UN Findings and Recommendations on U.S. Housing Rights 2006-2010
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UPR Housing Recommendations
Lists the recommendations made on housing issues at previous UPR sessions. |
UPR Advanced Written Questions
Lists the advanced written questions made on housing issues at previous UPR sessions. |
Bringing Human Rights Home |
The Law Center recently coordinated an effort that brought together the nation’s leading domestic human rights experts for a Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill. The experts, including our very own Executive Director, Maria Foscarinis, discussed the recent review of the United States by the UN Human Rights Council. View video of the briefing and hear the experts discuss the human rights review process, the Council’s report and recommendations, our government’s responses, and the role of Congress in ensuring human rights are enjoyed to the fullest here at home.
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Resources |
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General UPR Information
Great resource for background information on the UPR itself. Provides explanations of what a state must submit as well as how NGOs can participate. Particularly interesting is the Database features which allows one to look at all the comments, questions and recommendations made to a country, by country. It also shows how that country responded. There is however very little information about the United States.
A guide to the UPR process and a model report are available at the US Human Rights Network UPR Coordination site .
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State Department City Consultations and Site Visits |
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In conjunction with this review, the State Department will be conducting a road tour to solicit input for the government’s report to the UN. They will be visiting the following cities (dates and sites subject to change):
- New Orleans (Jan. 26)
- Chicago (TBD)
- Albuquerque,NM (Feb. 23-24)
- New York City,NY(Feb. 26)
- Dearborn (Mar. 3)
- El Paso (Mar. 8-9)
- Birmingham/Tuscaloosa (Mar. 11-12)
- San Francisco (Mar. 22-23)
- Geneva (March 25)
NLCHP is happy to assist groups who want to participate in each of these locations with connecting them to resources and site coordinators (where known).
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New York City UPR Listening Session |
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This daylong government listening session, held on February 26, 2010, was cosponsored by the National LawCenter on Homelessness & Poverty, ColumbiaLawSchool’s Human Rights Institute and the Urban JusticeCenter. It was the third in a series of eight listening sessions. It featured presentations by advocates highlighting human rights issues related to housing, employment and labor, education, health and criminal justice. Speakers on housing issues included New York groups such as: Picture the Homeless, Tenants and Neighbors, Community Voices Heard, the New York chapter of the National Alliance of HUD Tenants and L’ORAGE Productions. It offered an unprecedented opportunity for human rights advocates in New York to engage directly with the Administration, offering recommendations that will enhance human rights and dignity across the nation. Representatives from State, Housing & Urban Development, and Justice Departments among others, attended.
Links to Testimony:
Eric Tars, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Tyler Chase, L'ORAGE Productions
Chris Wood
Arthur Wood
Connie Crothers
Deborah Masters
Press Release
NLCHP Blog Coverage
New York Times Blog Coverage |
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