PHA-Exch> Fwd: [ESCR-Net_Members] TAKE FURTHER ACTION for an effective OP to the ICESCR

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Julieta Rossi jrossi at escr-net.org

     **

Thanks to many of you, we have gathered almost 500 signatures in a little
less than a week. The letter is already being used to lobby governments that
support a weaker version of the Optional Protocol.

In addition, we would also like to suggest a few other actions so that the
best outcome could be achieved at the second part of the *fifth session of
the UN Open-Ended Working Group for an Optional Protocol, starting 31 March
2008*.

   - Undertake lobbying activities targeting states supporting a less
   effective version of the Optional Protocol (These states are Austria,
   Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
   Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.)
   - *Lobby supportive states* to encourage increased participation and
   coordination at the Working Group.  (The supportive states are most of
   states in Africa and Latin America as well as Belgium, Croatia, Finland,
   France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain.)
   - *Participate* in the next Working Group meeting (Geneva, March
31st2008 to 4
   April 2008)
   - *Support joint statement* at the Working Group session.

 These ideas can be further explained by writing to Julieta.

 Finally, this request for action is introduced by an* update on the
negotiations* of the key issues that will be discussed at the Working Group
and that would make the OP a more or less effective instrument to claim
violations of economic, social and cultural rights.  We hope that this
information will help you in your advocacy efforts.

 *The NGO Coalition for the Optional Protocol Steering Committee*

 ***

 *For an *Update on the negotiations on the Optional Protocol and Request
for Action

 please send an e-mail to the Steering Committee at op_coalition at yahoo.de

 Please also note the following practical details:

*Dates and venue*: The fifth session will be held at the Palais des Nations,
Geneva , room XII. The session has been split into two parts: The first part
was held from 4-8 February and the second part will be held from 31 March-4
April 2008 respectively with daily meetings from 10:00 to 13:00 and from
15:00 to 18:00.

*Accreditation*: NGOs wishing to accredit representatives to the fifth
session of the Working Group are invited to complete the registration form
and send it together with their signed request for accreditation either by
email isevin at ohchr.org (cc. uhalsteen at ohchr.org), by fax on +41 22 928 90 10
or by mail to UNOG-OHCHR, CH-1211 Geneva 10. Registration prior to the
session will ensure that a badge will be available from 8 am on 4 February
and 31 March 2008 at the Security Identification Section located at main
entrance to the Palais des Nations, Gate Pregny (opposite the building of
the International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC), Avenue de la Paix,
1211, Geneva. The accreditation office will remain open from 8:00 to 17:00
during the session.

   - *Support joint statement at the Working Group*

It would be very useful to have a joint statement signed by as many members
of the Coalition and other organizations and individuals as possible
reiterating the key elements of the Optional Protocol and why these features
are necessary to make the Optional Protocol effective for victims. We will
try and prepare and circulate a statement as soon as possible.


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