The United Nations (UN)

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945.  It is currently made up of 193 Member States.  See their website HERE

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

 

The UDHR is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris in 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. See their website HERE

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

The OHCHR works in partnership with states, civil society and the UN agencies in order to ensure that international human rights standards are implements on the ground. It supports the work of the UN human rights mechanisms, such as the Human Rights Council and the core Treaty Bodies set up to monitor states’ compliance with international human rights treaties, promotes the right to development, coordinates UN human rights education and public information activities and strengthens human rights across the UN system. See their website HERE

The Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. See their website HERE

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.

The UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed. The ultimate aim of this mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur. See their website HERE

Human Rights Treaty Bodies

The human rights treaty bodies are committees of independent experts which monitor the implementation of the core international human rights treaties. Each State party to a treaty has an obligation to take steps to ensure that everyone in the State can enjoy the rights set out in the treaty.

Currently, there are nine human rights international treaties, and one optional protocol, from which 10 treaty bodies have been established. See their website HERE

Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council

The special procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. The system of Special Procedures is a central element of the United Nations human rights machinery and covers all human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political, and social. There are currently 44 thematic and 12 country mandates. See their website HERE

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

CRC is the body of 18 Independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by its State parties. It also monitors implementation of two Optional Protocols to the Convention, on involvement of children in armed conflict and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. On 19 December 2011, the UN General Assembly approved a third Optional Protocol on a communications procedure, which will allow individual children to submit complaints regarding specific violations of their rights under the Convention and its first two optional protocols.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly in November 1989. See their website HERE

United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. See their website HERE

UNICEF

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. See their website HERE

UPR Info

UPR Info’s mission is to utilise the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to ensure cooperation among all actors, including states, governments, national human rights institutions, civil society, United Nations Agencies, parliamentarians, academics, and media, to implement human rights obligations and commitments. See their website HERE

The International Service for Human Rights

ISHR is an independent, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights. We achieve this by supporting human rights defenders, strengthening human rights systems, and leading and participating in coalitions for human rights change. See their website HERE

Climate Change

If you want to find out more about climate change, including COP21 – the Paris Agreement - and the Framework Convention on Climate Change, visit their website HERE
There is more information about UNEP HERE

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. The IPCC was created to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options. See their website HERE

Nine is Mine - INDIA

In response to Nelson Mandela’s call to keep our governments accountable to their promise of halving poverty by the year 2015 and ending it by 2025, children in India have rallied themselves into a movement called NINEISMINE.

Check out their website, clicking on the image here:

Edmund Rice Justice Centre - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

The Edmund Rice Centre is involved in a range of projects and activities across the four areas of its operation in research, community education, advocacy and networking. The Centre's objectives are to:
Conduct and encourage research into the causes of poverty and inequity in society, especially with regard to youth and Indigenous Australians.
Promote teaching that supports awareness, understanding and action in the areas of justice and community issues.
Promote experiential learning activities through organised and reflective immersion programs in Australia and internationally.
Encourage the development of skills in advocacy and social action.
Facilitate liaison and networking opportunities amongst agencies involved in social justice and community education activities.

Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education
PO Box 2219 (15 Henley Rd)
HOMEBUSH WEST, NSW 2140
AUSTRALIA

Check out their website

ERN Social Justice & Advocacy Desk - SOUTH AFRICA

The Social Justice and Advocacy Desk of Southern Africa was launched in January of 2014 and is currently based at the Khaya ERNSA Community House in Cape Town, South Africa. The Desks yearly developed Formation Programme serves to educate and skill ERNSA members, as well as the general public around Social Justice and Advocacy issues. The Desk coordinates Social Justice Programmes, Eco Justice Presentations,
Eco-Retreats, Skills Courses for vulnerable young adults, as well as volunteerism projects such as The Umoya Project in Khayelitsha which focuses of the rights of the disabled and elderly. The Desk also advocates on behalf of local and international groups that suffer infringements on their Human Rights.

Contact Jessica at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Check out their website, clicking on the image here:

Edmund Rice Christian Brothers JPIC network - NORTH AMERICA

The Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North America JPIC network supports justice efforts in school ministries. It was inaugurated in April, 2008.  Co-sponsored by ERCBNA Office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation and the ERCBNA Office of Eucational Services in order to foster, support, and partner justice work in all North American school ministries within the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice.

Check out their website, clicking on the image here:

Edmund Rice Advocacy Network - KENYA

Join their Facebook page here to find out more

Edmund Rice Justice AOTEAROA - NEW ZEALAND

Edmund Rice Justice Aotearoa - New Zealand has being running as a organization since 2005 to provide support and community for young adults intersted in social justice. Supporters range in ages and occupations but are all held together by a passion to be involved in social justice issues.

We currently provide services such as

• Community meetings for young adults and school students
• Advocacy comments and campaigns
• Information and resources on current issues
• Services such as restorative justice facilitation
• Support for new and developing social justice initiatives

Check out their website here