WEBINAR: Using United Nations Tools to Challenge U.S. Racism: Commemorating the International Day to End Racism

The U.S. Human Rights Cities Alliance and John Parke Young Initiative on the Global Political Economy

Wednesday, March 20, 6:00-7:00 PM EST/ 5:00-6:00 PM CST/ 3:00-4:00 PM PST

This panel will present lessons from the work of local organizers to mobilize international human rights as a tool for advancing racial equity, human rights, and justice. In particular, we will share lessons from efforts to engage local communities in reviews of U.S. compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination and with the recent country visit of the UN Expert Mechanism on Law Enforcement and Racial Justice, as well as opportunities provided through the newly established United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

Panelists will report on the work of recent international investigations of racial disparities and discrimination in the United States, including the International Expert Mechanism on Racial Discrimination in the Context of Law Enforcement (EMLER) and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). We will hear about some of the key findings and recommendations in these reports and learn how grassroots activists and policymakers can use them to hold U.S. officials accountable for global human rights and improve conditions in local communities. We will also learn about the upcoming Third session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, which will develop the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Promotion, Protection, and Full Respect of the Human Rights of People of African Descent, addressing themes of reparations, sustainable development, economic justice, and education and culture. 

Panel participants: 

• Kerry McLean, J.D., Director, Human Rights and Public International Law, Columbia University Law School.
• Lisa Borden, Senior Policy Counsel for International Advocacy, Southern Poverty Law Center.

Register below:

https://occidental.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAode6hpj8pHtSZkaXlVeXeM8F2qzai6s-_#/registration

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Learn more about the Human Rights Cities Alliance: https://humanrightscities.wixsite.com/hrca.

Questions about the webinar may be directed to younginitiative@oxy.edu or info@humanrightscities.mayfirst.org.

Questions about the National Human Rights Cities Alliance can be directed to info@humanrightscities.mayfirst.org.

 Join the group: https://gaggle.email/join/u.s.-human-rights-cities-alliance@gaggle.email.