ESCR-Net's Content

Our Land, Our Life: The Struggle for Western Shoshone Land Rights

ESCR-Net — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:57:32 -0700

"Our Land, Our Life: The Struggle for Western Shoshone Land Rights" presents the struggle of Carrie and Mary Dann, two Western Shoshone elders, to address the threat mining development poses to the sacred and environmentally sensitive lands of Newe Sogobi, also known as Crescent Valley, Nevada.

This is an abridged version presented by ESCR-Net member the Western Shoshone Defense Project, in cooperation with Oxfam America.

Produced and directed by Beth and George Gage for Gage & Gage Productions. For more information, contact: bggage (at) rmi.net.

International Network for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net)

International Strategy Meeting on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and ESCR-Net General Assembly

ESCR-Net — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:48:51 -0800

ESCR-Net, in partnership with the Kenyan ESCR Coalition, will hold a four-day International Strategy Meeting of its Working Groups, Members and active participants on March 26th to 29th, 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. This landmark gathering intends to bring together approximately 200 key human rights, social justice and grassroots’ activists from around the world.

Building on the collective achievements of ESCR-Net and its Members since its Inaugural Conference in Thailand in 2003, as well as the strong trajectory and experience of local Kenyan organizations over the past decade, this meeting is envisioned as a significant occasion to create new, substantial and more systematic pathways for greater global action for social and economic justice through human rights. Participants in ESCR-Net’s Working Groups and Initiatives will benefit significantly from meeting together—in one location with interpretation and preparation—to network, strategize and advance their collective agendas as well as to explore the intersections of their work.

Moreover, this meeting will be an unparalleled opportunity to support and learn from ongoing mobilizing efforts of local organizations and communities affected by economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) violations in Kenya and the African region and will allow for the advancement of collective actions and tools in response to the conditions of poverty, inequality and human rights abuses in Africa today.

The gathering is also foreseen as a crucial step forward in strengthening ESCR-Net’s institutional capacity to influence decision-making processes regarding state and non-state accountability for the implementation of socio-economic rights. At the meeting, Members will set ESCR-Net’s priorities for the coming three years, elect a new Board, and establish consistent procedures and criteria to launch campaigns and solidarity actions, among other institutional decisions.

International Network for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net)

International Network for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net)

ESCR-Net — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:45:32 -0800

Working to Strengthen Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The substantive work of ESCR-Net is carried out through decentralized structures that are comprised of and coordinated by Members based in different countries. These structures can take the form of a Working Group, Initiative or Discussion Group, each providing a different way for organizations to work together on an issue of shared concern and enable joint action. ESCR-Net seeks to strengthen economic, social and cultural rights by working with organizations and activists worldwide to:

Facilitate Mutual Learning and Strategy Exchange

The Network provides a space for groups working at local, national, and international levels on different aspects of ESCR and economic justice to learn from one another, to deepen their knowledge base, and to work together. The Network has actively facilitated mutual learning and strategy exchanges, particularly on emerging issue areas in human rights.

Develop New Tools and Resources

In response to needs identified by its Members, ESCR-Net has created and compiled new tools and resources for human rights monitoring and advocacy.

Engage in Advocacy

Members of the Network have chosen to collectively undertake advocacy on emerging or key ongoing international issues of shared concern. ESCR-Net provides a structure to facilitate joint advocacy globally as well as to engage in education and outreach, especially at the national level.

Provide Information-Sharing and Networking

The Network has developed thematic Discussion Groups (thematic listservs) where participants post information requests, seek support for campaigns, share strategies and discuss current developments in the field.