<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">OP Coalition</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:op-coalition@escr-net.org">op-coalition@escr-net.org</a>></span><br>
Date: Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 2:52 PM<br>Subject: Toolkit for Action for the OP-ICESCR<br>To: <a href="mailto:cschuftan@phmovement.org">cschuftan@phmovement.org</a><br><br><br>
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<em style="font-style:italic;font-weight:normal">La versión en español ha sido enviada por separado</em></p>
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<font face="Trebuchet MS">Dear colleagues,
<br><br>The NGO Coalition for an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is glad to announce the launch of the<br></font></p>
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<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font size="7"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC"><a href="http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1dd3935e580229c572c17de3e1137576?pa=2748797263" style="color:#16AFCD;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Toolkit for Action</a></span></font>
<br> <br><font size="3"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC">for the</span></font>
<br><br> <font size="5"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC">Optional Protocol to the International Covenant</span>
<br> <br><span style="color:#16AECC">on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights</span></font></font> </font></font></p>
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<font size="2"><font face="Trebuchet MS">The toolkit was created for NGO and other civil society groups as well as States, to facilitate international and national advocacy work to support the ratification of the Protocol and the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights nationally.</font></font></p>
<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;vertical-align:top"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">The Toolkit includes four Booklets:</strong><br>
<br><span style="color:#16AECC">Booklet 1:</span> <em style="font-style:italic;font-weight:normal">Refreshing Your Knowledge about the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights</em> explains the content of the Covenant that the Optional Protocol seeks to enforce. It explains ESCR, States’ obligations under the Covenant, the role of the Committee and the challenges related to implementing and enforcing ESCR.<br>
<br><span style="color:#16AECC">Booklet 2:</span> <em style="font-style:italic;font-weight:normal">Overview: The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights</em> describes the procedures and mechanisms introduced by the Optional Protocol, the signature and ratification process and the competence of the Committee to receive and consider complaints against States Parties.
<br><br><span style="color:#16AECC">Booklet 3:</span> <em style="font-style:italic;font-weight:normal">Why Should States Ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?</em> outlines some of the key incentives for States to ratify and implement the Optional Protocol. It challenges the myths contesting the justiciability of ESCR and offers tools to advocate for ratification and domestic implementation of the Optional Protocol.
<br><br><span style="color:#16AECC">Booklet 4:</span> <em style="font-style:italic;font-weight:normal">Tools to Lobby Your Country and Advocate for the Ratification and Implementation of the Optional Protocol</em> provides information, resources and templates to assist you in lobbying for the ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol.</font>
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<font face="Trebuchet MS">We are <a href="http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/cd7f447a6adad0f79d5d823b14ca19ff?pa=2748797263" style="color:#16AFCD;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">now sharing</a> the <strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">English</strong> versions of the Toolkit. <strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">Spanish</strong>, <strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">French</strong> and <strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">Arabic</strong> versions will be available shortly. </font>
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<font face="Trebuchet MS"><strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">Why an Optional Protocol?</strong></font>
<br><br><font face="Trebuchet MS">Millions of people around the world suffer violations on their economic, social and cultural rights, including abuses of the rights to adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, health, work and education. Many of them find no mechanisms within their countries to address these violations and up to now there was no procedure at the International level to claim violations of these rights. However, once in force, the Optional Protocol will enable victims of violations of the rights protected in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, who are unable to find remedies within their own countries, to seek justice within the United Nations.</font></p>
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<font face="Trebuchet MS">The Optional Protocol will also help to improve or enhance existing national complaints mechanisms for victims of violations on ESCR, and motivate States to comply more fully with the obligations imposed by the Covenant. </font>
<br><br><font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC">The Protocol includes three procedures:</span></font><br><br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS"><strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">1.</strong> Communications procedures of individuals or groups of individuals claiming violations of the rights of the Covenant</font><br><br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS"><strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">2.</strong> Inquiry procedures when the Committee (the body in charge of analyzing cases under the Protocol) has received reliable information of grave or systematic violations by a State Party of rights of the Protocol; and</font><br>
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<font face="Trebuchet MS"><strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">3.</strong> Inter-State communications when a State Party considers that another State Party is not fulfilling its obligations under the treaty.</font><br>
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Through the ratification of human rights treaties, States become accountable to the international community, and declare that they may not invoke the provisions of its internal law as justification for its failure to perform a treaty.</p>
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<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;vertical-align:top"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold">About the Campaign</strong>
<font face="Trebuchet MS"><br><br>The International NGO Coalition for the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights brings together hundreds of individuals and organizations from around the world who share the common goal of promoting the ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol. The NGO Coalition led civil society efforts towards the adoption of the Optional Protocol and now focuses on the ratification and implementation of this Treaty. Through the Campaign for the ratification and implementation of the OP-ICESCR, Justice NOW! Ratify to Protect all Human Rights, the NGO Coalition seeks to:<br>
<br>• <span style="color:#16AECC">Secure</span> the entry into force of the Protocol with a large and regionally diverse number of ratifications/accessions.<br></font></font></p>
<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;vertical-align:top">• <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC">Ensure</span> the effective functioning of the Optional Protocol by: advocating for the adoption of effective rules of procedure, encouraging the election of committee members with a strong ESCR background, supporting the harmonization of national-level systems with the Protocol and working with the Committee of ESCR and national –level authorities to build awareness and ensure progressive implementation of the treaty.<br>
</font></p>
<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;vertical-align:top">• <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC">Provide</span> legislation support to ensure appropriate cases reach the Committee to set a positive precedent.<br>
</font></p>
<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;vertical-align:top">• <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC">Increase</span> awareness of the Optional Protocol and strengthen the capacity of organizations to use this instrument as an important tool to advance ESCR work at the national level.</font><br>
</p>
<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;vertical-align:top">• <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC">Expand</span> and <span style="color:#16AECC">strengthen</span> the network of organizations working on the Protocol and ESCR-related issues.<br>
</font></p>
<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;vertical-align:top">• <font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#16AECC">Facilitate</span> the involvement of national-level organizations on the presentation of strategic cases before the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the implementation of decisions.<br>
</font></p>
<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;vertical-align:top"><font face="Trebuchet MS">We welcome your input and feedback and hope to have the opportunity of working with many of you in support of this important mechanism to bring justice to victims of ESCR violations. You can contact us at <strong style="font-style:normal;font-weight:bold"><a href="mailto:ngo-coalition@escr-net.org" target="_blank">ngo-coalition@escr-net.org</a></strong></font> </p>
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<p style="color:#3A352A;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;line-height:1.5em;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;margin-top:0;padding:0;padding-top:3px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><span style="color:#C6C6C6"> <em style="font-style:italic;font-weight:normal">Photo Credit: © Private & AI and Liz Ligon</em></span></font></p>
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