<br><span class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Julieta Rossi</b> <a href="mailto:jrossi@escr-net.org">jrossi@escr-net.org</a><br><br></span>
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<p><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></span></font></b></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"></span></font></span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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 <b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">fifth session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group for an Optional Protocol, starting 31 March 2008</span></b>.<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"></span></font></span></font></p>
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<li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Undertake lobbying activities targeting states supporting a less effective version of the Optional Protocol<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"> </span></font>(These states are<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"> </span></font>Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy">)</span></font></span></font>
<li><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Lobby supportive states</span></font></b> 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.)
<li><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Participate</span></font></b> in the next Working Group meeting (Geneva, March 31<sup>st</sup> 2008 to <font size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">4 April 2008)</span></font>
<li><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Support joint statement</span></font></b> at the Working Group session. </li></li></li></li></ul>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> These ideas can be further explained by writing to Julieta.<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"></span></font></span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> Finally, this request for action is introduced by an<b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> update on the negotiations</span></b> 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. <font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"></span></font></span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <i><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The NGO Coalition for the Optional Protocol Steering Committee</span></i><font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"></span></font></span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> ***<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"></span></font></span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <strong>For an </strong></span></font><font size="4"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Update on the negotiations on the Optional Protocol and Request for Action</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> please send an e-mail to the Steering Committee at <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:op_coalition@yahoo.de" target="_blank">op_coalition@yahoo.de</a> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> Please also note the following practical details:<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"></span></font></span></font></p>
<p><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Dates and venue</span></font></b><font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy">: </span></font>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. </p>
<p><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Accreditation</span></font></b><font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy">: </span></font>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 <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:isevin@ohchr.org" target="_blank">isevin@ohchr.org</a> (cc. <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:uhalsteen@ohchr.org" target="_blank">uhalsteen@ohchr.org</a>), 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. <font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"></span></font></p>
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<li style="COLOR: navy"><b><font face="Times New Roman" color="black" size="3"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext">Support joint statement at the Working Group</span></font></b> </li></ul>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.<font color="navy"><span style="COLOR: navy"> </span></font></span></font></p>
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