Collaborating for Economic and Social Rights
Ninth Session of the Universal Periodic Review, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland: November 5, 2010
CWGL was involved in civil society advocacy for the United States first United Nations Universal Periodic Review which included the development of a cluster report on integrating human rights into macroeconomic policies in the US. On November 5, 2010 the UN and Member States reviewed the status of human rights in the US. Over 200 recommendations were received from over 80 Member States inscribed to speak. Topics ranged from treaty body ratification of CEDAW, CRC, CRPD, CMW, and ICESCR to the abolishment of the death penalty to the elimination of extraterritorial torture. Furthermore, new precedence was set for state responsibility in participating in the UPR. The US administration sent over 30 representatives from the housing, labor, education, and health offices, however, CWGL noted the absence of macroeconomics policy experts. The webcast of the review can be viewed on the UN Human Rights Council website. Following the US's UPR CWGL along with CESR, ESCR-Net, PERI, Urban Justice Center, and USHRN organized a side event entitled, “Building Foundations for Freedom from Want in the Land of Plenty.” Speakers focused on economic and social rights violations in the US including progressive realization of rights, the distribution of resources, amounts of resources used on social expenditure, the implications of unemployment in communities of women and people of color, and moving forward to March 2010. Finally, CWGL participated in a US sponsored Town Hall event. View the CWGL UPR related video and photos.
CWGL endorsed the following cluster reports:
