Supporting Grassroots Movements for Human Rights
The most effective strategies for working towards social justice come through grassroots activism. We work with grassroots activists to support emerging movements for economic and social rights (the right to food, work, housing, health, social security and education) in the United States. Increasingly, grassroots groups are beginning to use this human rights approach to challenge the poverty and inequality that their members face.
One of CESR’s primary partners in this effort is the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC), a national campaign to raise the issue of poverty as a human rights violation. It is led by grassroots organizations of poor and homeless women, men and children of all races from across the country, ranging from public housing residents in Chicago to welfare recipients in Philadelphia. CESR supports the efforts of the Campaign by providing written materials for member organizations, organizing strategy and capacity building meetings, and supporting project activities.
HUMAN RIGHTS MATERIALS
Declaration on the Full Realization of Human Rights in the United States:
CESR drafted this declaration in collaboration with the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC). The Declaration sets out international economic human rights standards, as enshrined in the United Nations human rights treaties, and draws attention to the ways in which the United States has failed to meet these standards. It represents a Call to Action and a Declaration of Commitment to realizing full economic, social, and cultural rights within the United States.
The full Declaration can be viewed as a PDF or a Microsoft Word doc.
To endorse the Declaration, complete and return the Endorsement Form.
Information Sheets on Economic and Social Rights:
CESR has produced information sheets that describe international human rights standards and governmental obligations around specific economic and social rights, and provide an analysis of US conditions related to those rights. These information sheets are linked to a particular city or advocacy campaign. If you are interested in adapting one of these information sheets for use in your local campaign please contact us at rights@cesr.org.
The Right to Education Series
1a. The Right to Education in New York City
1b. The Role of an Ombudsperson for Education
1c. The Right to Participation in Education
1d. The Right to a Remedy for Violations
Coming soon: [were these ever written?]
The Right to Healthcare – yes we'll have short synopsis of this report
US Human Rights Obligations – not sure what this is – we are preparing a state constitutional book and maybe we can put up an excerpt of it and state forthcoming.
EVENTS AND RALLIES
‘It’s About Time Campaign for Workers Health and Safety’ Hunger Strike and Rally in New York City:
CESR staff spoke at a rally on May 7, 2003 in New York City to support the seven day injured workers Hunger Strike organized by the It's About Time Campaign for Workers Health and Safety. The Campaign is a multi-racial, grassroots initiative established in 1999 by three workers centers in New York City – Chinese Staff & Workers' Association, National Mobilization Against SweatShops, and Workers Awaaz. The Campaign is committed to fighting against sweatshop conditions, particularly long hours, that have affected the health and lives of working people here in the U.S.
Speech delivered by CESR on May 7, 2003.
For more information visit:
National Mobilization Against SweatShops (NMASS)
Chinese Staff and Worker's Association (CSWA)
Coalition of Immokalee Workers Hunger Strike and Rally against Taco Bell in Irvine, California:
CESR staff attended a rally and hunger strike in Irvine, California on February 26-28, 2003 to support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in their campaign to get Taco Bell to pay one penny more per bushel of tomatoes. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is a PPEHRC member organization that fights for a living wage and decent working conditions for tomato pickers in Florida.
Speech delivered by CESR on February 28, 2003: English version | Spanish version.
For more information visit the Coalition of Immokalee Workers website at http://www.ciw-online.org
PPERHC Truth Commission:
CESR and KWRU organized a “Truth Commission” for the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) on December 10, 2002 in NYC, as the final event of a 30 day PPERHC Human Rights Bus Tour across the country. Participants from the bus tour testified about economic human rights violations in their local communities before six Commissioners: Lawrence H. Curry (Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives), Steve Kahonovitz (Legal Director, Legal Resources Center, South Africa), Bill Kane (President, NJ Industrial Union Council), Sylvia Orduño (Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and National Welfare Rights Union), Dr. Victor Sidel (Former President, American Public Health Association), and Mark Webber (Film Actor).
For more information on the event visit KWRU’s website at www.kwru.org.
Break the Media Blackout Conference:
CESR held two training sessions entitled “Translating Human Rights Standards for the Media” at the conference, “Break the Media Blackout: A Conference on Media Democracy and The Struggle to End Poverty,” on October 4-6, 2002 at Temple University. The Conference was organized by PPEHRC to build and strengthen the critical alliance between the growing media democracy movement, and those who seek to end poverty through the building of a domestic human rights movement.
International Human Rights Day Meeting
December 10, 2001:
On December 10, 2001, International Human Rights Day, CESR and KWRU hosted a meeting of over 40 representatives from community and grassroots organizing groups from around the country to discuss strategies and objectives of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign. The meeting included presentations from the organizations represented, a discussion of advocacy strategies for the campaign, a media training and a session on the use of video in advocacy.
