PHM-Exch> Call for Action on the Optional Protocol-ICESCR

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: OP Coalition <op-coalition at escr-net.org>

*English / Español / ***La version française viendra plus tard***


MAKE OUR RIGHTS LAW! ENFORCE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS



Call for Action to support signature, ratification and implementation of the
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights

*
***

The upcoming first anniversary of the opening for signature, ratification
and accession on 24 September of the Optional Protocol to the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Protocol), the annual
Treaty Event taking place in New York between 21-23 and 27-28 September
(coinciding with the MDG Summit), and the second anniversary of the adoption
of the Protocol are key dates to campaign for the ratification of this
mechanism. At present, 33 countries have signed the Protocol, and Ecuador
and Mongolia have ratified it. Eight more states need to become a party to
the Protocol in order for it to come into force.

* *

*We ask you to take action to support the call for signature, ratification
and implementation of this treaty.  *

* *

Possible actions*:*

- Please *send a letter to your government* urging them to sign and ratify
or accede to the Protocol without delay.  Please ask your government to
participate in the Treaty Event in New York, which starts on 21 September
2010, and to mark the first anniversary of the opening for signature,
ratification and accession of the Protocol on 24 September by becoming a
party to the Protocol. Please also call on them to make a declaration, at
the time they become a party to the treaty, that they recognise the
competence of the Committee to carry out inquiries under the inquiry
procedure.

- Issue a *press release/public statement* on or in advance of the opening
anniversary of the opening for signature, ratification and accession on 24
September calling on your government to become a party to the Protocol and
to encourage other states to do the same. Any media work around the
OP-ICESCR could also support the media work around the MDG summit by
emphasising that the Protocol should be ratified as a tool to promote
accountability for human rights in MDG efforts.

- *Prepare an Op-ed* to run in a national newspaper. Where possible, an
influential person could be asked to issue the opinion editorial under her
or his name.

- Seek a *meeting with your contacts in government* to discuss the Protocol
and find out if they plan on becoming a party to this treaty. If your
government is not planning to sign or has not yet decided if they will
become a party to the Protocol, please try to discuss and identify the
possible obstacles for doing so. Once the problems have been identified,
steps can be taken to address decision-makers’ concerns or to campaign to
overcome them.


If you need help in preparing the counter-arguments or would like to discuss
this further, please email Suad Elias at the NGO Coalition at
op-coalition at escr-net.org



We would appreciate any updates on government positions and plans, as well
as on activities linked to this action circular or more broadly to promote
ratification of the Protocol. Please send any updates to the Coalition:
op-coalition at escr-net.org. Your feedback is very important. We would also
encourage you to share information on your activities and materials that you
are using to promote action as this may be useful for colleagues in other
countries.
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