Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions Human Rights Professional Training Series No. UNITED NATIONS New York and Geneva, 2005 12 NOTE The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Material contained in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, provided credit is given and a copy of the publication containing the reprinted material is sent to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, 8-14 avenue de la Paix, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. HR/P/PT/12 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. E.04.XIV.8 ISBN 92-1-154163-8 ISSN 1020-1688 Cover photographs: United Nations, Department of Public Information Michael Mogensen / Still Pictures Fiji Human Rights Commission CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ vii I. THE NATURE OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS ... 1 A. THE NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK .......................................................... 3 Human rights as a single body of law ............................................................. 3 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ..................... 5 General comments ......................................................................................... 6 Other sources of guidance on State obligations relating to economic, social and cultural rights ................................................................................................. 7 B. STATE OBLIGATIONS............................................................................. 9 “undertakes to take steps ... by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures” ............................................................. 9 “with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights” ........ 10 “to the maximum of its available resources”................................................... 12 “without discrimination”................................................................................ 13 “through international assistance and cooperation” ....................................... 14 The obligation to respect ................................................................................ 15 The obligation to protect ................................................................................ 17 The obligation to fulfil .................................................................................... 18 C. SOME CENTRAL CONCEPTS.................................................................. 22 Minimum core obligations .............................................................................. 22 Justiciability and the domestic application of economic, social and cultural rights ............................................................................................................. 25 Avoiding retrogressive measures .................................................................... 28 II. THE NATURE OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS ..... 29 A. IMPORTANCE OF A BROAD AND CLEARLY DEFINED MANDATE BASED ON INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS..................... 31 The Paris Principles ......................................................................................... 31 B. ELEMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MANDATE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS............................... 34 Interpreting the mandate................................................................................ 34 Independence................................................................................................. 36 Functions........................................................................................................ 36 Powers ........................................................................................................... 36 Accessibility .................................................................................................... 37 Cooperation ................................................................................................... 38 Operational efficiency and capacity................................................................. 38 Accountability ................................................................................................ 39 iii Page C. CHALLENGES FOR NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSITUTIONS IN ADDRESSING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS.............. 40 Internal factors ............................................................................................... 40 External factors............................................................................................... 40 III. THE ROLE OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS IN PROTECTING AND PROMOTING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL........................................................................................... 43 A. DEALING WITH VIOLATIONS OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS................................................................................ 45 Why deal with violations of economic, social and cultural rights?.................... 45 Investigative principles .................................................................................... 47 A complaints-based framework for dealing with violations of economic, social and cultural rights .......................................................................................... 48 The steps in investigating individual violations................................................. 49 Investigating systemic violations...................................................................... 54 B. MONITORING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS ............. 57 Why monitor economic, social and cultural rights? ......................................... 57 Principles ........................................................................................................ 58 A framework for monitoring........................................................................... 60 C. PROMOTING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS............... 74 Why promote economic, social and cultural rights? ........................................ 74 Principles ........................................................................................................ 75 A framework for promotion............................................................................ 76 Promoting State recognition of obligations relating to economic, social and cultural rights ................................................................................................. 83 Promoting judicial recognition of the justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights ................................................................................................. 86 Promoting awareness and empowerment through public education ............... 88 Promoting observance of economic, social and cultural rights by non-State actors ............................................................................................................. 89 Training small groups in economic, social and cultural rights ........................... 89 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................... 93 BOXES Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Standards - 1. The indivisibility and interdependence of all rights.................................... 4 2. The main human rights bodies................................................................. 7 3. Basic postulates proposed by Danilo Türk................................................. 8 4. General comments and forced evictions................................................... 16 5. Disaggregating State obligations—housing rights .................................... 21 iv Page 6. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - reporting guidelines............................................................................... 68-69 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Practice - 01. Affordable measures to promote and protect economic, social and cultural rights ........................................................................................ 24 02. The courts and economic, social and cultural rights in South Africa: the national human rights institution as a judicial monitor ........................... 27 03. Mandate of the Fiji Human Rights Commission...................................... 32 04. Mandate of the National Human Rights Commission of India ................ 35 05. Uganda Human Rights Commission....................................................... 37 06. Investigative monitoring in the Philippines ............................................. 47 07. Ontario Human Rights Commission, Canada ......................................... 54 08. Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission................ 56 09. South African Human Rights Commission.............................................. 59 10. Quantitative health indicators ................................................................ 62 11. Promoting the independence and indivisibility of rights.......................... 75 12. Setting goals and formulating objectives...............................................
Recommended publications
  • Voorstel Inrichting Buffergebied “De Baenjd” Datum; 25 November 2019
    Voorstel Inrichting buffergebied “De Baenjd” Datum; 25 november 2019 Projectnaam: Kwistbeek fase 2 waterbuffer Projectnummer: 60-2019-OV-013 Projectgebied: Gemeente Peel en Maas Onderdeel: Helden Versie: Concept/praatstuk Document: Auteur: Ron Janssen Trekkers: Ron Janssen ism gemeente Peel en Maas 1. Inleiding Binnen de gemeente Peel en Maas wordt werk gemaakt om de regenwaterproblematiek op te lossen. Vanuit het veranderende klimaat en de hoeveelheid verharding is het noodzakelijk dat regenwater “gebufferd” kan worden, waarna het gedoseerd zijn weg kan vervolgen. Binnen de gemeente Peel en Maas is samen met Waterschap Limburg het gebied “De Baenjd” benoemd als buffergebied. De gemeente heeft een structuur opgezet met werkgroepen en voor dit onderdeel wil men graag een plan, dat vroegtijdig besproken is met de omgeving. Daarom heeft IKL, Ron Janssen, inzet gepleegd vanuit de kaders Waterschap Limburg en de gemeente Peel en Maas om samen met de streek een voorstel uit te werken. Onderstaand de opzet van het voorstel, dat op 27 november besproken wordt in de Werkgroep. 2. Uitgangspunten en randvoorwaarden Vanuit de opdracht heeft IKL uitgangspunten meegekregen die duidelijk aangeven dat de buffer voor waterretentie functioneel moet zijn en te allen tijde zijn functie kan volbrengen. Vandaar heeft Antea berekend wat de inhoud van de retentiebuffer dient te zijn. Gemeente heeft de beoogde locatie aangegeven. Vanuit deze uitgangspunten heeft de gemeente en werkgroep aangeven wat de aanvullende randvoorwaarden zijn: • Inrichting gebied dient een bijdrage te leveren aan de landschappelijke structuur/cultuurhistorische opbouw van het gebied • Ecologisch mogen bestaande waarden niet in het gedrang komen door wijziging watertoestand/instroom gebiedsvreemd water • De inrichting moet beheersbaar zijn, zodat de functionaliteit ten alle tijden gewaarborgd is.
    [Show full text]
  • Strong and Effective National Human Rights Institutions
    STRONGCommissions - promotionAND (advisory) Commissions - promotion and protection EFFECTIVEOmbud institutions - NATIONALTraditional Ombud institutions - 'Plus' HUMANInstitutes RIGHTS INSTITUTIONSCountry has no accredited NHRI CHALLENGES, PROMISING PRACTICES AND OPPORTUNITIES ― REPORT © European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2020 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders. Neither the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights nor any person acting on behalf of the Agency is responsible for the use that might be made of the following information. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020 Print ISBN 978-92-9474-866-9 doi:10.2811/297231 TK-01-20-138-EN-C PDF ISBN 978-92-9474-867-6 doi:10.2811/320913 TK-01-20-138-EN-N Photo credits: Page 7: © photo 5000 (AdobeStock) Page 10: © konoplizkaya (AdobeStock) Page 23: © Guillaume Le Bloas (AdobeStock) Page 28: © Grecaud Paul (AdobeStock) Page 33: © izkes (AdobeStock) Page 44: © araelf (AdobeStock) Page 50: © Fokussiert (AdobeStock) Page 54: © fotogestoeber (AdobeStock) Page 63: © aerogondo (AdobeStock) Page 69: © Zerbor (AdobeStock) Page 73: © konoplizkaya (AdobeStock) Page 80: © master1305 (AdobeStock) Page 86: © finecki (AdobeStock) Page 89: © Семен Саливанчук (AdobeStock) Page 92: © ipopba (AdobeStock) Page 94: © jirsak (AdobeStock) Page 95: © Ranta Images (AdobeStock) Foreword National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are a vital part of the country- level human rights protection system. By raising awareness, providing advice, monitoring and holding authorities to account, they have a central role in navigating the great human rights challenges of our day – tackling both persistent concerns like discrimination and inequality, and novel issues such as the rights implications of artificial intelligence and of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    [Show full text]
  • Statement of Support for the Turin Process to Strengthen Social Rights in Europe
    Statement of Support for the Turin Process to strengthen Social Rights in Europe The Turin process, initiated by the Council of Europe (CoE) in October 2014, aims to reinforce the normative system of the European Social Charter within the Council of Europe and in relation to the law of the European Union (EU). Its key objective is to improve the implementation of social and economic rights in the Council of Europe Member States, in parallel to the civil and political rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. ENNHRI reiterates its strong commitment to the Turin Process. The European Social Charter of 1961 and the Revised European Social Charter of 1996 guarantee a wide range of fundamental rights, relating to health, housing, social protection, working conditions, freedom to organise, and protection against poverty and social exclusion. NHRIs address the full range of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Their core functions, to promote and protect human rights, enable them to improve the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights at the national level. They can do this, for example, through training and awareness raising, individual assistance, investigations and inquiries, monitoring, research and reporting, advising governments and parliaments, and engaging with regional and international human rights systems. ENNHRI members actively engage in the area of economic and social rights and attach great importance to the European Social Charter as one of the instruments that can be used to ensure the implementation economic and social rights, together with the European Convention on Human Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the United Nations core human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Labour Organisation Conventions.
    [Show full text]
  • Venlo Is in the Netherlands. We Are Called 'Blariacum College'. Http
    Venlo is in the Netherlands. We are called 'Blariacum College'. http://www.blariacum.nl/ Venlo in southeastern Netherlands Venlo, Netherlands, location map Location of Venlo: Venlo is located in the southeast Netherlands in the Dutch province of Limburg near the border with Germany. The historic center of the town is located on the east side of the river Meuse. The population of Venlo is around 100,000 people. Getting to Venlo - Railway Station: Venlo offers intercity connections to Den Haag, Delft, Rotterdam and Eindhoven among other stations, with connections to Germany via Kaldenkirchen. Regional and city buses are located in front of the station, and there is a large parking lot as well. Venlo Carnival and Other Events: Venlo's carnival celebration is called Vastenaovend, and it's a grand celebration held six weeks before Easter. The main event is on Saturday and festivities continue until the next Tuesday. The Zomerparkfeest is a big arts festival held in the park near the train station. Need to know what to do in the area? Here's a long list: a day out in Limburg. If you like country living, or are looking for lodging during Floriade or carnival, you might have to look for places in the Limburg countryside. HomeAway lists a variety of Limburg Vacation Rentals. Closest Airports: Venlo is served by the airports of Düsseldorf (Germany), Maastricht, Eindhoven and Weeze (Germany). Tourist Office: VVV Venlo: The address of the tourist office is Nieuwstraat 40-42, 5911 Venlo. It's open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday from 10am to 5pm.
    [Show full text]
  • Summary of the Limburg Region Seminar, November 8-9, 2012
    Local Scenarios of Demographic Change: Policies and Strategies for Sustainable Development, Skills and Employment Summary of the Limburg Region Seminar, November 8-9, 2012 Maastricht, December 7, 2012 Summary of the Limburg Region Seminar, November 8-9, 2012 Acknowledgements This summary note has been prepared by Andries de Grip (Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market, Maastricht University) and Inge Monteyne (Zeeland Regional Province). Aldert de Vries, Roxana Chandali (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations) and Silas Olsson (Health Access) and Karin Jacobs, Hans Mooren (Benelux Union) revised the note and provide useful comments for its final format. The note has been edited by Cristina Martinez-Fernandez (OECD LEED Programme), Tamara Weyman (OECD project consultant) and Melissa Telford (OECD consultant editor). Our gratitude to the workshop participants for their inputs and suggestions during the focus groups. 2 Summary of the Limburg Region Seminar, November 8-9, 2012 List of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Pre-workshop discussion and study visit ........................................................................................................... 4 Limburg Workshop ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Focus group 1. Opportunities within the cross-border labour
    [Show full text]
  • Programmaplan Preventiecoalitie Sittard-Geleen En CZ
    Programmaplan Preventiecoalitie Sittard-Geleen & CZ Versie 13-01-19 Inhoudsopgave Preventiecoalitie Sittard-Geleen & CZ 1. Aanleiding voor samenwerking 2. Uitdagingen in Sittard-Geleen 3. Doelstellingen 4. Aanpak 5. Monitoring en evaluatie 6. Governance 7. Bijlagen 2 De gemeente en CZ hebben ieder hun eigen verantwoordelijk- heden in een gefragmenteerd zorg/ondersteuningslandschap Preventiecoalitie Sittard-Geleen & CZ Zelf / Samen Sociaal domein Medisch domein Samenleving Gemeente Sittard-Geleen CZ CZ Zorgkantoor Wmo Jeugdwet Wet Publieke Gezond- Zvw Wlz heid Participa- Omge- tiewet vingswet Complexiteit van ondersteunings- / zorgvraag 3 Doelgroepen en en hun zorgvragen overstijgen de gefragmenteerde zorg en ondersteuning Preventiecoalitie Sittard-Geleen & CZ Zelf / Samen Sociaal domein Medisch domein Samenleving Gemeente Sittard-Geleen CZ CZ Zorgkantoor Gezonde bevolking Groepen/individuen Individuen met met een verhoogd gezondheidsprobleem gezondheidsrisico Complexiteit van ondersteunings- / zorgvraag 4 Voor verbeteringen in het sociale en medische domein is een gezamenlijke integrale aanpak nodig Preventiecoalitie Sittard-Geleen & CZ Zelf / Samen Sociaal domein Medisch domein Een gezamenlijke integrale aanpak (het in samenhang vormgeven van preventie, welzijn en zorg) is nodig omdat… • Gefragmenteerde ondersteuning en zorg een holistische benadering belemmeren • Veel ondersteunings- en zorgvragen betrekking hebben op zowel het sociale als medische domein • Gemeente en zorgverzekeraar wederzijds afhankelijk zijn • De gemeente heeft
    [Show full text]
  • Comment to Somalia's Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights
    Comment to Somalia’s Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Women, and Humanitarian Affairs on Draft National Human Rights Commission Legislation Summary Somalia’s provisional constitution provides for the establishment of a national human rights commission.1 A draft law is currently before parliament. Given the devastating human rights abuses throughout the 20-year civil war and limited rights monitoring and reporting, the establishment of a robust and independent commission is an important opportunity for the new government to demonstrate a concrete commitment to break with the past and ensure the rights of all Somalis are a priority. The first step will be strong implementing legislation that ensures the personnel, processes, and powers of the commission are clearly defined and free from political interference. In February 2013 the minister of justice presented a first draft law to parliament that was later amended and an updated draft was presented in May 2013. It is scheduled for a second reading before it will be presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Women, and Humanitarian Affairs, which has the power to recommend changes. This paper analyses the May 2013 draft, as seen by Human Rights Watch, assesses its compliance with international standards on national human rights institutions, and makes recommendations for further revisions.2 There is no single formula for creating a robust, independent human rights commission, but the United Nations Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions, known as the Paris Principles, are internationally recognized standards on the establishment and functioning of national human rights institutions, and should serve as a guide for the 1 Federal Republic of Somalia: Provisional Constitution, adopted August 1, 2012, as of September 19, 2012(Provisional Constitution hereafter), art.
    [Show full text]
  • Geleen Kracht
    ONTWERP KONINKLIJK BESLUIT Besluit van tot aanwijzing van onroerende zaken ter onteigening in de gemeente Sittard- Geleen krachtens artikel 72a van de onteigeningswet (onteigening voor de aanleg van twee spooronderdoorgangen in verband met het opheffen van de onbewaakte gelijkvloerse spoorwegovergangen Raadskuilderweg en Lintjesweg, met bijkomende werken). Ingevolge artikel 72a, eerste lid, van de onteigeningswet kan onteigening van onroerende zaken plaatsvinden onder meer voor de aanleg en verbetering van wegen, bruggen, spoorwegwerken en kanalen, alsmede daarop rustende zakelijke rechten. Daaronder wordt op grond van artikel 72a, tweede lid sub a, mede begrepen onteigening voor de aanleg en verbetering van de in het eerste lid bedoelde werken en rechtstreeks daaruit voortvloeiende bijkomende voorzieningen ter uitvoering van een bestemmingsplan als bedoeld in artikel 3.1, eerste lid, van de Wet ruimtelijke ordening. Het verzoek tot aanwijzing ter onteigening ProRail B.V. (hierna: verzoeker) heeft Ons bij brief van 24 september 2019, kenmerk STD-GLN-OVW-RW en LW Z002-002579, verzocht, om ten name van ProRail B.V. over te gaan tot het aanwijzen ter onteigening van de onroerende zaken in de gemeente Sittard-Geleen. De onteigening wordt verzocht om de aanleg mogelijk te maken van twee spooronderdoorgangen voor fietsers en voetgangers op de spoortrajecten Maastricht-Sittard tussen km 19.429 en km 19.301 en Sittard-Heerlen tussen km 2.647 en km 2.753 in verband met het opheffen van de onbewaakte gelijkvloerse spoorwegovergangen Raadskuilderweg en Lintjesweg, met bijkomende werken, in de gemeente Sittard-Geleen. Planologische grondslag De onroerende zaken waarop het verzoek betrekking heeft, liggen in de gemeente Sittard-Geleen.
    [Show full text]
  • Province of North-Brabant ELENA: Zero Emission Buses in the South of the Netherlands Introduction
    Province of North-Brabant ELENA: Zero Emission Buses in the South of the Netherlands Introduction 20-20-40 Initiative European Union aims at • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% • Increasing the share of renewables in energy consumption to at least 20% • Improving energy efficiency by at least 20%, all by 2020 Covenant of Mayors Initiative • Initiative launched by the European Commission on 29 January 2008, under which • Signatory cities formally committed themselves to going beyond the objectives of the "20-20-20" Initiative in terms of reducing their C02 emissions through energy demand and renewable energy actions Elena Facility • European Local Energy Assistance Facility, set up by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) under the Sustainable Energy Financing Initiative The ELENA Contract Provinces of North-Brabant and Limburg both teamed up with the Foundation ZEB: action plan to introduce Zero Emission Bus Transport within the two regions. This Project ensures that future bus transport concessions are based on the utilisation of zero emission buses. – Signed by EIB and Zero Emission Bus Transport Foundation – Cofinanced by provinces of North-Brabant and Limburg (10%) – Endorsements by the provinces in case of termination of the contract (partial) repayment of the grant is determined by the EIB – Loans by the provinces to overcome liquidity issues at the end of the project due to payment scheme of EIB (last 30% after determination of the final contractual amount) The ELENA Contract Goals/objectives: – Bridge the gap for urgent funding to move from high level plans to actual implementation of the envisaged regional investments within new public transport concessions.
    [Show full text]
  • ITHACA CASE STUDY NO.3: Provincie Noord-Brabant
    ITHACA CASE STUDY NO.3: Provincie Noord-Brabant ITHACA Case Study (3): Province of Noord-Brabant ___________________________________________________________________________ Acknowledgements This case study was developed for the ITHACA (Innovation in Health and Care for All) Project supported by Interreg Europe. It was written by Mariëlle Swinkels of ZorgtechnoService, Netherlands. The author expresses thanks to all the Brabant Smart Health Stakeholders who contributed time and presentations to the ITHACA Exchange of Experience Event in Noord-Brabant. She also thanks the many visiting delegates from the other ITHACA regions for their feedback and comments. It is these combined contributions that have informed and made possible the drafting of this case study. Mariëlle Swinkels ZorgtechnoService Kerkendijk 46 5712EV Someren Tel: + 31 (0)613354397 e: [email protected] 1 ITHACA Case Study (3): Province of Noord-Brabant ___________________________________________________________________________ Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 3 1.1. BACKGROUND TO THE CASE STUDY 3 1.2 METHODOLOGY 3 1.3 STRUCTURE OF THIS CASE STUDY 4 2. STRATEGIC AND POLICY CONTEXT 5 2.1 OVERVIEW 5 2.1.1 GOVERNANCE AGREEMENT 2015-2019 8 2.1.2 BRAINPORT 2020 STRATEGY AND NATIONAL ACTION AGENDA 9 2.1.3 RIS3 SOUTH NETHERLANDS 11 2. 2 CHALLENGES FOR POLICY IMPROVEMENT 12 3. ECO-SYSTEM 15 3.1 THE NOORD-BRABANT ECO-SYSTEM CONTEXT 15 3.1.1 SUB-REGIONAL MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ORGANISATIONS 15 3.1.2 BRABANT SMART HEALTH NETWORK 17 3.1.3 INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURES AND PROJECTS 17 4. INTERVENTIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS THE INNOVATION CYCLE 19 4.1 THE INNOVATION CYCLE 19 4.2 CAPACITY BUILDING AND IMPLEMENTATION 20 4.2.
    [Show full text]
  • 64947 HRI Realizing Rights Report-FINAL.Indd
    THETHE ROADROAD TTOO R RIGHTS:IGHTS: ESTABLISHINGESTABLISHING AA DDOMESTICOMESTIC H HUMANUMAN RIGH RIGHTSTS INSTITUTIONINSTITUTION ININ T THEHE U UNITEDNITED ST STATESATES A Post-Conference Report from the Global Convening on National Human Rights Commissions A Post-Conference Report from the Global Convening on National Human Rights Commissions THE ROAD TO RIGHTS: E STABLISHING A DOMESTIC HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTION IN THE UNITED StATES Report from the Global Exchange on National Human Rights Commissions at the Rockefeller Foundation Center, Bellagio, Italy: August 2-6, 2010 Dedicated to the memory of John Payton, a participant in the Global Convening, whose passionate commitment, wisdom and tireless efforts to advance civil and human rights have had a profound impact on the United States and the world. The Global Exchange was co-convened by The Leadership Conference Education Fund and Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute, advocacy and academic institutions based in Washington, D.C., and New York City, respectively. The convening was made possible by generous support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the U.S. Human Rights Fund and the Ford Foundation. The Leadership Conference Education Fund is the sister organization to The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Nation’s oldest and largest civil rights coalition, consisting of more than 200 national organizations, represent- ing persons of color, women, children, labor unions, individuals with disabilities, older Americans, major religious groups, gays and lesbians and civil liberties and human rights groups. The Leadership Conference was founded in 1950 and has coordinated national lobbying efforts on behalf of every major civil rights law since 1957.
    [Show full text]
  • Citycentredoctor Heerlen
    Integrated Action Plan | Executive Summary Heerlen 20.02.2018 | V2 Integrated Action Plan - Heerlen V2 | 1 1. Heerlen Heerlen is a relatively young city. In the last century, Heerlen experienced a growth spurt from a village with an agricultural economy to a prosperous city with an industrial economy. After the closing of the main employer, the mines, the city experienced a downward spiral economically, with all the socio- economic side effects that are related to this. From the turn of the century, a renewed confidence in the future is slowly but surely emerging. In addition to the manufacturing industry, the service economy is developing more and more. The mining history is no longer a traumatic experience, but gains its own appreciation in the collective memory of the city; among others in the form of a fully-fledged mining museum. Although the mining museum is not located in the center of the city, it can reinforce the tourist appeal of the city center of Heerlen. Due to large investments in the cultural infrastructure, the cultural sector is developing rapidly. This creates an ideal breeding ground for a blossoming creative sector. The demographic shift (the ageing population) challenges the municipality even more to stimulate young people in their development. The slogan ‘Krimp als Kans’ (roughly translated to ‘decline as an opportunity) was not a content-free marketing slogan, but reflects the conviction that there is room for innovation. This must of course be used fully. Together with Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen and the neighbouring city of Aachen, we all provide a distinctive offer so that the cities reinforce each other.
    [Show full text]