Smith, Jackie and Cooper, Joshua
Stakeholder Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of the United States (Third Cycle): Racial inequity at the core of human rights challenges in Pittsburgh.
Technical Report.
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Abstract
A coalition of Pittsburgh activist groups working to support various human rights filed a Stakeholder Report to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report was part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United States’ human rights record, which solicits documentation from residents about local human rights conditions. International experts and national government leaders will use these reports on U.S. human rights conditions to evaluate the performance report provided by the national government. The report theme highlights the role of racial inequity as a core obstacle to the region’s human rights performance. It spotlights persistent and worsening racial inequities manifested in the realms of housing insecurity, immigrant rights, health and the environment, and local democracy. Citing the recent Gender Analysis of Pittsburgh, the report notes that “[r]acial and social class disparities have been a long-standing and persistent obstacle to the realization of human rights in Pittsburgh.” The national political climate and economic development policies have worsened inequities and deprivation in the region, particularly for the most vulnerable groups. In regard to the human right to housing, the report highlighted the substantial deficit of affordable housing, lack of adequate protections for tenant rights, discrimination, and a need to ensure that affordable housing is located in areas accessible to transit and healthy food. Persistent and significant racial disparities persist in health outcomes and in the treatment of people within the criminal justice system. The report outlines key recommendations for federal policy changes to improve human rights conditions in U.S. cities, including: 1. The advancement of a culture of human rights and democratic values to eliminate racial discrimination, promote racial equity and end racial profiling in the administration of justice; 2. Ratification of international human rights treaties 3. Improved national policies to address climate change and to significantly strengthen corporate regulation and enforcement; 4. Increased federal funding to cities and localities to allow them to adequately protect the health and well-being of all residents and to implement international human rights obligations.
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