Press Call Wednesday from Geneva: U.S. Civil Rights Advocates Bring Concerns to the United Nations
This call has already occured. Click here to download an MP3 of the proceedings: http://dl2.newmediamill.net/media/lccr/GenevaCERDPressCall_8_13_2014.mp3
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, August 13 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, civil and human rights advocates will host a press call from Geneva during the United Nations review of the United States’ progress on its obligations to reduce racial discrimination and disparities under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
CERD obligates member nations to take steps to reduce racial and ethnic discrimination and disparities within their borders. The U.S.-based civil and human rights advocates on the call are all presenting to a U.N. panel in Geneva, documenting their concerns and recommendations for progress under the treaty.
Many of these concerns are highlighted in a joint report filed with the U.N. from 40 non-governmental organizations, “Falling Further Behind: Combating Racial Discrimination in America.” Issue briefs on specific concerns on education, criminal justice, and voting are also available.
This call will take place immediately following the first half of the U.S. government’s presentation to the U.N. committee on Wednesday morning. The second half of the government’s presentation will conclude on Thursday.
WHO:
· Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
· Hilary O. Shelton, director of the NAACP Washington Bureau
· June Zeitlin, director of human rights policy at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
· Marcia Johnson-Blanco, co-director of the Voting Rights Project at The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law
WHAT: Press call from Geneva, Switzerland, with U.S. civil and human rights advocates presenting to the United Nations on U.S. progress on reducing racial discrimination and disparities
WHEN: Wednesday, August 13 at 1:30 p.m. EDT