Engaging with Human Rights Mechanisms

The New York City Human Rights Initiative

HRP is the lead coordinating organization of the New York City Human Rights Initiative (NYCHRI), a citywide coalition of over 100 community-based organizations, service providers, advocacy groups, policymakers, labor unions and human rights activists and educators working to strengthen the use of human rights standards in tackling systemic problems of inequality in New York City. NYCHRI is currently working on a ground-breaking legislation entitled the Human Rights in Government Operations Audit Law (or Human Rights GOAL) that draws from human rights principles of non-discrimination, participation, accountability and transparency, as well as from the two key international treaties addressing gender and race discrimination -- CEDAW (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) and CERD (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination), to provide a foundation for ensuring comprehensive protection against, and pro-active measures to prevent, all forms of unlawful discrimination. Human Rights GOAL would facilitate better public participation in the formulation of government policies and more transparency in policymaking.

CERD Implementation Project

HRP is working on the local implementation of CERD, one of the few human rights treaties that the United States government has ratified. HRP recently coordinated a collaborative effort to write a NYC Shadow Report on race disparities for submission to the UN CERD committee. The report, Race Realities in NYC, covers issues ranging from education to criminal justice.

Durban Review Conference

HRP is organizing an effort to urge the State Department to engage the United States as a full participant in the Durban Review process, as well as to facilitate participation of domestic racial justice and human rights advocates in the process. The Durban Review Conference 2009 is a follow up to the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa. The main objective of Durban Review Conference is to assess implementation of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action, which was adopted by consensus at the WCAR and is the most important framework for combating racism and racial discrimination. Please note that the United States Government is boycotting the process leading up to the Durban Review Conference, and has not yet determined whether it will participate in the Durban Review Conference. This is a continuation of the United States withdrawal from WCAR in 2001 when they cited the amount of time that some participants spent condemning Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people as the reason for the walk out. Please download and circulate HRP's factsheet on the Durban Review Conference.

Local Implementation of Human Rights Project

HRP is working in collaboration with groups across the country to facilitate the implementation of international human rights treaties locally and nationally. HRP coordinates national calls to share strategies on local implementation efforts across the country.

Links to the United Nations

HRP works to connect groups to UN mechanisms. For example, HRP recently coordinated a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism to meet with over 70 groups in NYC. HRP also holds workshops at the UN.

Workshops and Trainings

HRP offers various workships and training sessions through the year. Click here to view more information.