Human Rights Framework Project

The Human Rights Framework project of the International Committee is a project to utilize international human rights law (declarations, covenants, and treaties as well as rulings and commentary by international tribunals and commissions) to promote economic and social rights in the U.S. It is a project designed to build information and awareness within the Guild and the larger human rights and legal services community about the international human rights framework, especially as it relates to economic, social and cultural rights (such as housing, healthcare, education and the right to a job and adequate standard of living), and the value of that framework in "bringing human rights home".

We have developed a "Toolkit" for local lawyers and activists to use to educate their communities and local officials and representatives about the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) by developing model resolutions for local jurisdictions to call for Senate ratification of the ICESCR, ensuring federal funding for the economic and social rights that are requirements of basic human rights.

In addition, we are presenting a series of webinars to educate attorneys and activists engaged in human rights and legal services work on human rights law and its relevance for promoting economic, social and cultural rights in the US. The Toolkit and the webinars, as well as additional background documents and discussion papers will be posted here.

Archive of earlier postings, 2006-2014

Human Rights 101 Webinar, presented by Jeanne Mirer

Audio recording is available here: (1hr 28m, mp3):http://www.nlginternational.org/webinars/humanrights-mirer.mp3
PowerPoint presentation (PDF format):
http://www.nlginternational.org/webinars/humanrights-mirer.pdf

Resources

Guild Visioning Committee Concept Paper on Human Rights - Using Human Rights to Build the Guild and Social Movements
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) Manual on Economic and Social Rights Framework
NESRI Creative Lawyering Manual

Background Documents

Toolkit Urging ICESCR Ratification

H.R. 216
House Resolution 216 was introduced by Rep. John Lewis in May 2009, calling for ratification of major international treaties, including ICESCR. A factsheet and the text of the resolution are below:

Contact us

Email international@nlg.org

All Posts

Human Rights Framework Updates

Video: NLG Workshop On War and Genocide Tax Resistance

Watch the full video (above, at YouTube) of the NLG virtual workshop, organized by the Palestine Subcommittee, on war and genocide tax resistance. While withholding all or part of one’s federal income tax is not legal, it is being done within a context claiming that paying taxes to the US Government at this time amounts […]

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March 7, Online: The Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment – Seminar A of the People’s Academy of International Law

The Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment REGISTER NOW! Seminar A of the Monique and Roland Weyl People’s Academy of International Law Thursday, March 7 9 am Pacific, 12 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC Interpretation available in English, Spanish, French (Arabic, Portuguese upon request) Register: https://peoplesacademy.net/register NOTE: This will be a two and a half-hour […]

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February 22, Online — UN Organs, Their Respective Roles and Competencies & Supporting People’s Struggles: Class 2B, People’s Academy of International Law

UN Organs, Their Respective Roles and Competencies & Supporting People’s Struggles: The People’s Academy of International Law Course 2B REGISTER NOW! Thursday, February 22 9 am Pacific, 12 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC Interpretation available in English, Spanish, French (Arabic, Portuguese upon request) Register: https://peoplesacademy.net/register NOTE: This will be a three-hour course! The People’s Academy of […]

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February 8, Class 2A, People’s Academy of International Law — The UN World Court and Compliance with International Law

The People’s Academy of International Law REGISTER NOW FOR CLASS 2A! Thursday, February 8 9 am Pacific, 12 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC Interpretation available in English, Spanish, French (Arabic, Portuguese upon request) Register: https://peoplesacademy.net/register NOTE: This will be a two-hour course! The People’s Academy of International Law, which is sponsored by the International Association of Democratic […]

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December 6, Class 1B, People’s Academy of International Law — The UN Charter and global conflicts, legal challenges to war and the TWAIL critique

The People’s Academy of International Law REGISTER NOW FOR CLASS 1B! The UN Charter: Global conflict resolution, Legal challenges to war, and TWAIL critiques Wednesday, December 6 9 am PT – 12 pm ET – 4 pm UTC Interpretation available in English, Spanish, French, (Arabic and Portuguese upon request) Register: https://peoplesacademy.net/register NOTE: This will be […]

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November 3, People’s Academy of International Law — The Charter of the United Nations: Its genesis, essential principles and relevance today

LAUNCHING THE PEOPLE’S ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW Register for our first class! Friday, November 3 9 am PT – 12 pm ET – 4 pm UTC Interpretation available in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Portuguese Register: https://peoplesacademy.net/register NOTE: This will be a three-hour course! The People’s Academy of International Law, which is sponsored by the International […]

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Video: Understanding the RICO Indictments Against Stop Cop City Activists

National Lawyers Guild Atlanta, NLG International Committee and NLG National hosted a discussion on Monday, September 25: “Understanding the RICO Indictments Against Stop Cop City Activists.” Panelists and moderators were Stanley Cohen, Devin Franklin, Mo Meltzer-Cohen, Don Samuel and Azadeh Shahshahani, and the webinar was hosted by Suzanne Adely, Susi Durán and Sarina Larson. A […]

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Sept. 25, Webinar: Understanding the RICO Indictments Against Stop Cop City Activists

Webinar: Understanding the RICO Indictments Against Stop Cop City Activists Monday, September 25 7 pm ET/4 pm PT via Zoom Register: https://bit.ly/copcityrico On September 5, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr filed indictments against 61 people on RICO charges, as well as domestic terrorism and money laundering allegations, for allegedly being part of the movement to […]

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Video: NLG Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim and Jihad Abdulmumit

On Friday September 8th, the National Lawyers Guild was honored to be joined by two former political prisoners from the Black Panther Movement & organizers of the Spirit of Mandela campaign, which is bringing international attention to U.S. human rights violations of Black, Brown, Indigenous People, and U.S.-held political prisoners. The conversation was moderated by […]

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Donate: Send NLG Representatives to the African Bar Association Conference

From August 6-10 in Pretoria, South Africa, the African Bar Association conference will bring together thousands of lawyers on the African continent. Please donate below to support the NLG’s participation in this important conference! Kerry McLean, international human rights lawyer and NLG International Committee co-chair, has been invited to attend the conference, speak and […]

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