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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">The Optional Protocol to the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) <b>celebrates
the First Anniversary of its entry into force on May 5</b>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">The <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-966299ea6be8dd15438567f8fda35a6f-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">OP-ICESCR</span></a> 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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">However, a country has to ratify the
OP-ICESCR before its citizens can access this remedy. <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-56f0892e5c73f4fef85393a05e8c3203-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">Has your country ratified it yet?</span></a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;text-align:center;line-height:15.6pt" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:rgb(178,118,84)">Let's maximize our impact!</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">Try to <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-9142698c2f34fbc5869e00b79d889afe-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">engage your national authorities</span></a> and
encourage them to make some announcement. Some useful talking points are:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:0%"><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">▪</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.25in;line-height:18pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">▪ Ratification allows
your country to demonstrate international human rights leadership, working
collaboratively with the UN Committee on ESCR.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.25in;line-height:18pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">▪ The Optional Protocol
does not create any new rights but rather shows a clear commitment to meeting
existing human rights obligations.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.25in;line-height:18pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">▪ 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.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">▪ By ratifying the OP-ICESCR, your country
will demonstrate a commitment to strong Post-2015 development goals that
respect, protect and fulfill human rights.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;text-align:center;line-height:15.6pt" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:rgb(178,118,84)">Make it public!</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">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 <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-0bcdeea1040b706462282f95f22ad069-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">record a video</span></a> supporting the OP? These are
just some ideas. Check it out more <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-98ac29eb827261f167919f13d2b4b5b4-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">here!</span></a></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt;text-align:center;line-height:15.6pt" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:rgb(178,118,84)">Tweet it!</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">On May 5, let's use Twitter, Facebook or
other social media to celebrate the 1st Anniversary.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">Follow us on Twitter <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-8cbdd77dc11bfb10911b2a6455f1dded-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">@OPICESCR</span></a> , use <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-a8c6a0e8e4720318016f1d35871b30a4-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">#OPICESCR</span></a> and <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-c5b39d4123ef883e11d9d17589482517-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">#1yearintoforce</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">Address your tweets to your government
official, i.e.: "@Elysee The #OPICESCR is a vital tool for justice. Make
a commitment for ratifying #1yearintoforce".</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style>Any<span style>
</span>question?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">Visit our <a href="https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1398812845-d408f28a8eff3f4e7494af5dee409dd7-a333a27?pa=22217416884"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">website</span></a> or contact Ivahanna Larrosa, Campaign
Coordinator at <a href="mailto:ilarrosa@escr-net.org"><span style="color:rgb(105,155,203)">ilarrosa(at)escr-net.org</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.6pt;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">If you take any actions in May, <b>please let
us know</b>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(133,87,62)">Thanks
for your help promoting the OP-ICESCR!</span></p>
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