On Wednesday, September 27th, Dr. Arjun Sengupta, United Nations Independent Expert on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, will present his recent report on extreme poverty in the United States to the 2nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. An official United Nations fact-finding mission to the U.S. and Dr. Sengupta"s investigation for this report included an official United Nations fact-finding mission to the U.S., extensive research, and participation in the a U.S. National Truth Commission held in July by the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) – a movement of more than 100 American poor peoples organizations nationwide.
Live testimonies documenting violations of the right to food, housing, healthcare, education, living wage jobs and on unjust child removal were presented at the event in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Sengupta was among the esteemed national and international human rights leaders on a panel of Truth Commissioners who heard testimony and have completed reports of their findings. A publication of the commissioners responses and transcripts of testimonies will be published by PPEHRC and released on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
Dr. Sengupta contends that a countrys level of poverty is not dependent upon its wealth, but rather upon the nature of its economic and social systems. As the wealthiest country on earth, with one of the highest incidences of poverty among industrialized nations – the United States proved an ideal case study. His report will reveal to the Human Rights Council and to the world the extent of poverty in the United States, what has led to such widespread privation and what actions the federal government should take to resolve these issues and fulfill the economic human right of its people.
Following Dr. Senguptas presentation, Cheri Honkala, National Spokeswoman of PPEHRC, will speak on the condition of Americas poor and the broad, escalating, multiracial movement for economic human rights led by the poor. Dr. Sengupta remarked at the Truth Commission of PPEHRC, Human Rights are always dependent upon people claiming their rights. If rights are not claimed, they can not be exercised this movement is the beginning of poor people in the United States claiming their economic human rights.
PPEHRC will also hold a side event The Poor of the United States Confront Human Rights Violations Under the Bush Administration, in which Dr. Sengupta is expected to speak (2 4 PM, September 27, Palais des Nations, Room to be announced). Additionally, photographs depicting the reality of economic and social human rights violations in the U.S. and the movement for economic human rights will be displayed.
Where: Palais des Nations, United Nations Headquarters, Geneva
When: September 27th, 2006
For more information, please see http://www.economichumanrights.org, write jenkwru@yahoo.com or see the daily bulletin on meetings at the Human Rights Council session, or call (+44)(0)7769793778 (U.K. number) for information on PPEHRCs presence at Human Rights Council sessions.