PHM-Exch> Optional Protocol on ESC Rights one year old

[Claudio Schuftan]

The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) *celebrates the First Anniversary of its entry
into force on May 5*.

The OP-ICESCR<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-966299ea6be8dd15438567f8fda35a6f-a333a27?pa=22217416884>allows
individuals and groups to seek justice at the international level
(UN) when they have experienced violations of their ESC rights and have not
been able to secure a remedy at the domestic level.

However, a country has to ratify the OP-ICESCR before its citizens can
access this remedy. Has your country ratified it
yet?<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-56f0892e5c73f4fef85393a05e8c3203-a333a27?pa=22217416884>

*Let's maximize our impact!*



Try to engage your national
authorities<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-9142698c2f34fbc5869e00b79d889afe-a333a27?pa=22217416884>and
encourage them to make some announcement. Some useful talking points
are:

▪

▪ Ratification allows your country to demonstrate international human
rights leadership, working collaboratively with the UN Committee on ESCR.

▪

▪ The Optional Protocol does not create any new rights but rather shows a
clear commitment to meeting existing human rights obligations.

▪

▪ Your country is welcome to join the Group of Friends of the OP-ICESCR to
exchange information and advance ratification and implementation in
conversation with other governments.

▪

▪ By ratifying the OP-ICESCR, your country will demonstrate a commitment to
strong Post-2015 development goals that respect, protect and fulfill human
rights.



*Make it public!*

Are you able to set up a conference in a school, library or community
center to inform people about the OP? Would it be possible to collect
signatures to push your government to ratify the Protocol? Do you know an
artist willing to support our campaign? Would you like to record a
video<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-0bcdeea1040b706462282f95f22ad069-a333a27?pa=22217416884>supporting
the OP? These are just some ideas. Check it out more
here!<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-98ac29eb827261f167919f13d2b4b5b4-a333a27?pa=22217416884>



*Tweet it!*

On May 5, let's use Twitter, Facebook or other social media to celebrate
the 1st Anniversary.

Follow us on Twitter
@OPICESCR<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-8cbdd77dc11bfb10911b2a6455f1dded-a333a27?pa=22217416884>,
use
#OPICESCR<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-a8c6a0e8e4720318016f1d35871b30a4-a333a27?pa=22217416884>and
#1yearintoforce<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-c5b39d4123ef883e11d9d17589482517-a333a27?pa=22217416884>
.

Address your tweets to your government official, i.e.: "@Elysee The
#OPICESCR is a vital tool for justice. Make a commitment for ratifying
#1yearintoforce".

Any  question?



Visit our website<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-d408f28a8eff3f4e7494af5dee409dd7-a333a27?pa=22217416884>or
contact Ivahanna Larrosa, Campaign Coordinator at
ilarrosa(at)escr-net.org <ilarrosa at escr-net.org>.

If you take any actions in May, *please let us know*.

Thanks for your help promoting the OP-ICESCR!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://phm.phmovement.org/pipermail/phm-exchange-phmovement.org/attachments/20140430/aa3b1bb8/attachment.html>