Wednesday, July 24, :00 PM EST

 MISSION: The US Human Rights Network is a national network of organizations and individuals working to build and strengthen a people-centered human rights movement in the United States, where leadership is centered on the most directly affected by human rights violations, and the full range of diversity within communities is respected and embraced.

 Jamil Dakwar: ACLU  Amy Bergquist: Advocates for Human Rights  Colette Pichon Battle: Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy

◦ Update on the Review Process & Synopsis of U.S. Reply ◦ 10 Steps to Writing a Shadow Report ◦ Audience Q&A ◦ Next Steps in the Process and Available Resources

July 24, 2013 Amy Bergquist The Advocates for Human Rights Colette Pichon Battle Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy

 10 steps ◦ Set the stage (1-4) ◦ Plan and gather information (5-7) ◦ Implement (8-10)  “Case study”  Questions Overview

 Your issues  Your advocacy goals  Your resources ◦ Who can help? ◦ What can they do?  Enlist people to help as soon as you can. Image source: scpr.org

 Allied organizations or experts ◦ collaborate ◦ “sign on”  Other allies (networks, research institutions) ◦ Information, tactical tips  Power in numbers

 The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ◦ Relevant articles ◦ “Each State Party … undertakes to … ensure … the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. ” (art. 2(1))

 Read up on what has happened so far as it relates to these rights: ◦ outcome of the last review ◦ US Government report ◦ list of issues ◦ US Government response

 You can shed more light on these rights and related issues: ◦ on-the-ground information ◦ first-hand accounts ◦ reports ◦ specialized knowledge ◦ other information

 Committee’s in- person review with the U.S. Government delegation in October 2013 ◦ questions ◦ concluding observations ◦ recommendations

 Connect Steps 5 & 6  Gather information ◦ sources ◦ credibility and relevance  Plan to use the report beyond the UN review

 Set up a writing team  Take information from Steps 3, 4, and 7  Template  Incorporate proposed questions and recommendations (Step 6)  No “abusive” language

 Due to the Committee Sept. 13, 2013  Optional: ◦ Get stakeholder input before you submit. ◦ Recruit “sign-ons.” ◦ Submit to USHRN by Aug. 23, 2013 to be included in compilation.

 In the UN review ◦ Advocacy with the Committee ◦ Follow-up during the October process ◦ Advocacy for implementation of recommendations  Promoting longer-term social justice ◦ Report as a tool for education and outreach

 NGO Shadow Report Clustering Chart  ICCPR Shadow Reporting Template  Other Online Resources -

Visit us at: To find: ◦ NGO Shadow Report Clustering Chart ◦ Shadow Report Template ◦ U.S. Reply to the List of Issues ◦ Current and Past US Periodic Reports and Concluding Observations ◦ Past Training Call Audios ◦ ICCPR Taskforce Work Plan ◦ Much More

 Visit our website to learn more about the Network:  Visit our ICCPR newsletter page for all the resources discussed on the call and more:  us at with any ICCPR- related questions or  Consider becoming a member of the Network: