Us Human Rights Network Podcast

Learn about the exciting work of USHRN members and partners.

Learn about the exciting work of USHRN members and partners.

Call to discuss general conference information, overall goals and expectations for workshops, and questions presenters may have.

This is a selection from a training call presented by the ICCPR Taskforce. This part of the recording goes through the steps of how to write an effective shadow report. It can be applied to the shadow reporting process in general (not specific to the ICCPR). Presenters include Amy Bergquist of The Advocates for Human Rights and Jamil Dakwar, of the ACLU.

The ICCPR Taskforce wants to take the anxiety out of creating this important advocacy tool by providing a detailed walk-through of how to write a report, how to frame your issue, and where to gather supporting information. ICCPR veterans and experts will be on hand to take your questions.

The US Human Rights Network is working to promote full implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) by educating the public about the U.S. Government obligations under the treaty and by engaging community groups in the effective use of the treaty to promote human rights at home. This year, 2013, the US government is being reviewed on its compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and community groups have an opportunity to get involved! In this podcast we speak with co-chairs of the US Human Rights Network ICCPR Taskforce, Jamil Dakwar, the Director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Human Rights Program and Nasrina Bargzie, the National Security and Civil Rights attorney at the Asian Law Caucus. Jamil provides an overview of the ICCPR, and the review process and Nasrina shares why it is important for community groups to get involved.

This is a training call held by the ICCPR Taskforce as an introduction to shadow reporting. Presenters include: Katrina Anderson, Nasrina Bargzie, Marcia Johnson-Blanco, and Standish E. Willis. The call is moderated by Yolande Tomlinson.

On May 8, we held an informational call in which the ICCPR Delegation reported back on their trip to Geneva and we discussed the next steps to take in the ICCPR review process.

The US Human Rights Network and the ICCPR Taskforce hosted a webinar on March 7th, 2013, to discuss advocacy strategy for the March Human Rights Committee session and beyond. This was an open webinar both for those going and not going to Geneva.

On January 21st, President Barack Obama was inaugurated for his second term. In this podcast we look at human rights in the United States, and what human rights defenders are calling for in President Obama’s second term. First we speak with Ejim Dike, Executive Director of the US Human Rights Network about the Network’s 2012 Human Rights Status Report which highlights current human rights concerns, obligations the US has to address them and organization defending and promoting human rights in the U.S. We also feature Jamil Dakwar, the director of the Human Rights Program at the American Civil Liberties Union, discussing the reelection of the US to the United Nation’s Human Rights Council, and the need for the US government to uphold human rights at home. And we conclude with a collage of Network members and partners expressing what they would like to see the Obama Administration do to address human rights in this second term.

The US Human Rights Network and the ICCPR Task Force hosted a webinar on October 24th on how social justice groups can engage the ICCPR review process of the United States. Patrick Mutzenberg, director of the Geneva-based Centre for Civil and Political Rights, gave the main presentation.

In this month’s podcast we speak with Saladin Muhammad about the Southern Worker’s Assembly, a gathering to advance a social justice labor movement in the south. We also speak with Adrian Bernal about the recent Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity. The Caravan toured the U.S. to engage in dialogue about alternatives to the war on drugs.

In this episode of our podcast we have a report on the recent hunger strike by solitary confinement inmates in Georgia. Azadeh Shashahani, the National Security and Immigrants' Rights Project Director for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Georgia joins us to talk about their call to end 287g, the Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s SB1070, and other anti-immigrant measures like the Secure Communities Program. We also have commentary on a recent report 120 African-Americans killed by the police with a look at the specific case in Georgia of Ariston Waiters.

The US Human Rights Network hosted a webinar in partnership with Prometheus Radio Project on August 21, 2012 to share information about how community groups can start their own low power FM community radio stations. Jeff Rousset of Prometheus Radio Project shared the history of Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations, the larger media context in the U.S, and offered information on the upcoming opportunity to apply for LPFM radio stations along with the logisitcs of starting a station. Cruz Salucio and Adrian Alcantar from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) shared ways they are using radio to get the word out about worker's rights, emergency situations, community building and organizing efforts. Danielle Mkali of Main Street Project shared how groups in Minneapolis are organizing to start LPFM radio stations. After a 10 year fight, media justice advocates successfully passed the Local Community Radio Act in 2011. Now, there is a one-time opportunity to open up access to the airwaves for social justice g

On June 28, 2012 the Supreme Court issued its decision upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act! This decision means that millions of people in the United States, many who were previously denied healthcare, will have an opportunity to access health insurance. The Supreme Court decision is a victory for the millions who will now gain access to health insurance but does it guarantee comprehensive and high-quality healthcare for all people in the United States? Does it address inequities in health outcomes? On July 2, 2012 the US Human Rights Network hosted an education call to provide an overview of the decision, discuss its human rights implications, and how we can mobilize for the right to universal healthcare in the United States. Moderated by Tonya Williams, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Johnson C. Smith University Speakers included: Anja Rudiger, National Economic and Social Rights Initiative Aram Schvey, Center for Reproduc

In our June podcast we discuss Rio +20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Monique Harden, Co-executive Director of the Advocates for Environmental Human Rights and Andrea Carmen, Executive Director of the International Indian Treaty Council share their goals for Rio+20, their concerns around the proposal for a green economy, and the need for a rights based approach to sustainable development.

In this month's podcast, we speak to Andrea Carmen of the International Indian Treaty Council and Tupac Enrique Acosta of TONATIERRA about Indigenous Rights, the Doctrine of Discovery, The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, official visit to the Unites States, and the 11th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. We start with a report from the protest of Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina. Andrea Carmen, Yaqui Indian Nation, has been a staff member of the International Indian Treaty Council since 1983 and IITC’s Executive Director since 1992. Andrea has had many years of experience working with Indigenous communities from North, Central, South America and the Pacific. International Indian Treaty Council www.treatycouncil.org. Tupac Enrique Acosta is a Judge of the First Nations International Court of Justice, Tupac is a founding member of the community-based organization of Indigenous Peoples TONATIERRA in Phoenix, Arizona. A long time researcher a