Document - UN Human Rights Council: urgent appeal to adopt the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
AI Index: IOR 41/013/2008
UN Human Rights Council: urgent appeal to adopt the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
We the undersigned organizations of civil society, and individuals from all regions in the world, welcome the draft Optional Protocol to the ICESCR (Optional Protocol) which is before the Human Rights Council at the current session. The draft Optional Protocol was transmitted by an Open-Ended Working Group following five years of work. We welcome the fact that a majority of UN member states have constructively engaged in the negotiation process. We consider the agreed text is a compromise by all sides and we strongly believe that there should be no further attempts to limit or weaken the text, which could hinder individuals from having access to an effective remedy.
The Optional Protocol presents a historic opportunity for the international community to rectify the imbalance between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights, which has particularly denied the poorest and most marginalized the ability to demand respect for and protection of their rights. As the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted, the optional protocol will send a strong and unequivocal message about the equal value and importance of all human rights.
In the year of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we urge all countries to support and co-sponsor the resolution of the Human Rights Council endorsing the Optional Protocol in order to ensure its swift transmission for adoption by the General Assembly.
The international community should mark this historic year by taking a significant step towards achieving the promise of the UDHR and give greater effect to the right to a remedy for violations of economic, social and cultural rights.
A copy of this appeal letter has been sent to governments with over 700 signatures from NGOs and individuals in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Middle East. More signatures are being received.
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ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS |
COUNTRY |
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ACAT België-Vlaanderen |
Belgium |
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ACAT-Littoral du Cameroun |
Cameroon |
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Action For Social Rights |
Sierra Leone |
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ActionAid International |
Ireland |
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ADES/CN/AIFF |
Martinique (Overseas Department of France) |
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Alerta Vida ONG |
Argentina |
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Al-Haq (Palestinian Human Rights Organization) |
Occupied Palestinian Territory |
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Alianza De Los Barrios Tizic, Tecpancalco, Atenchincalca Y Teopancalco A.C. |
Mexico |
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Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) |
Jordan |
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Amnesty International |
UK |
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Amnesty International Belgium |
Belgium |
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Amnesty International Bermuda |
Bermuda (British Overseas Territory) |
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Amnesty International Czech Republic |
Czech Republic |
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Amnesty International Ghana |
Ghana |
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Amnesty International Ireland |
Ireland |
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Amnesty International Mexico |
Mexico |
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Amnesty International Netherlands |
Netherlands |
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Amnesty International Paraguay |
Paraguay |
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Amnesty International Philippines |
Philippines |
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Amnesty International Swiss section |
Switzerland |
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Amnesty International Togo |
Togo |
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Amnesty International Turkey |
Turkey |
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Amnesty International Uruguay |
Uruguay |
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Amnesty International, Swedish section |
Sweden |
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Amnistía Internacional - Uruguay |
Uruguay |
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ANTIGONE |
Greece |
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Asociaciación Qukumatz |
Guatemala |
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Asociación Comité de Víctimas de Familiares de Violaciones a los Derechos Humanos (CODEFAM) |
El Salvador |
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Asociación Hay Un Niño En Tu Camino |
Paraguay |
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BIND |
Philippines |
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Bulgarian Helsinki Committee |
Bulgaria |
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Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network |
Canada |
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Casa Amiga Centro de Crisis A.C. |
Mexico |
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Cauce Ciudadano A.C. |
Mexico |
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Center for Reproductive Rights |
USA |
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Centro de Capacitación Social de Panamá |
Panama |
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Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales (CDES) |
Ecuador |
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Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, AC |
Mexico |
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Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez A.C. |
Mexico |
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Centro de Derechos Humanos y Ambiente (CEDHA) |
Argentina |
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Centro de Estudios de la Mujer Honduras |
Honduras |
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Centro de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos "Joel Arriaga Navarro" A.C. |
Mexico |
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Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral |
Mexico |
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Children's Rights Alliance |
Ireland |
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CIFRAD-TOGO |
Togo |
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Coalition Malienne des Défensueres des Droits de l'Homme (COMADDH) |
Mali |
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Colectivo de Mujeres por la Equidad, la Salud y la Educación, A.C. |
Mexico |
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Colectivo Los Ángeles |
Mexico |
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Comhlámh |
Ireland |
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Comisión Colombiana de Juristas |
Colombia |
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Comisión de Derechos Humanos de El Salvador (CDHES) |
El Salvador |
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Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos – CEDHU |
Ecuador |
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Community Law Centre (University of the Western Cape) |
South Africa |
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Community Legal Centre Group, NSW Australia |
Australia |
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Conseil National pour les libertes en Tunisie |
Tunisia |
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Consultoria Agraria General Julian Medina |
Mexico |
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Coordinación Feminista Olimpia de Gouges |
Mexico |
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Coordinación Nacional de Mujeres por un Milenio Feminista |
Mexico |
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Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos del Paraguay (CODEHUPY) |
Paraguay |
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Coordinadora Nacional de Derehcos Humanos |
Peru |
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CORE, Centre for Organisation Research & Education |
India |
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Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) |
Australia |
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DECA Equipo Pueblo, A.C. |
Mexico |
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DEMUS, Estudio para la Defensa de los Derechos de la Mujer |
Peru |
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Economic and Social Rights Centre (Hakijamii) |
Kenya |
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Economic Justice and Development Organization (EJAD) |
Pakistan |
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Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights |
Egypt |
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El CECTEC - Centro de Educación, Capacitación y Tecnología Campesina |
Paraguay |
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El Programa Venezolano de Educación Acción en Derechos Humanos (PROVEA) |
Venezuela |
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Espacio DESC –Capitulo Mexicano de la PIDHDD |
Mexico |
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Ezquerra y Asociados |
Mexico |
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Fair Trade Resource Network |
USA |
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FIAN - Mexico |
Mexico |
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FIAN - PHILIPPINES |
Philippines |
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FIAN Andhra Pradesh |
India |
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FIAN Austria |
Austria |
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FIAN Belgium |
Belgium |
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FIAN Brazil |
Brazil |
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FIAN Ecuador |
Ecuador |
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FIAN France |
France |
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FIAN Germany |
Germany |
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FIAN Ghana |
Ghana |
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FIAN Honduras |
Honduras |
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FIAN Karnataka |
India |
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FIAN Mexico |
Mexico |
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FIAN Nepal |
Nepal |
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FIAN Netherlands |
Netherlands |
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FIAN Norway |
Norway |
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FIAN Philippines |
Philippines |
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FIAN Sweden |
Sweden |
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FIAN Switzerland |
Switzerland |
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FIAN Tamil Nadu |
India |
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FIAN Uttar Pradesh |
India |
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FIAN West Bengal |
India |
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Fédération internationale des droits de l'Homme (FIDH) |
France |
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Foro Ciudadano de Participación por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos (FOCO) |
Argentina |
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Foro de Mujeres del Mercosur |
Paraguay |
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FORUM MENSCHENRECHTE |
Germany |
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Front Line - The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders |
Ireland |
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Gays and lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) |
Zimbabwe |
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Grupo de Estudios Sobre Educación En cárceles- Argentina |
Argentina |
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Grupo Tacuba, A.C. |
Mexico |
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Habitat International Coalition (HIC) |
International |
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Human Rights Council of Australia |
Australia |
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Icelandic Human Rights Centre |
Iceland |
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INCIDE Social, A.C. |
Mexico |
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Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) |
India |
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Initiatives: Women In Development |
India |
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Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti |
USA |
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Instituto Mexicano de Cultura Arte y Desarrollo Humano A.C. |
Mexico |
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Instituto Mexicano Para el Desarrollo Comunitario, A.C. |
Mexico |
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Integrante de la ACDM por CLADEM – Paraguay |
Paraguay |
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INTERIGHTS |
UK |
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International Alliance of Inhabitants |
Italy |
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International Commission of Jurists |
Switzerland |
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International Institute on Peace Education |
USA |
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International Service for Human Rights |
Switzerland |
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Irish Penal Reform Trust |
Ireland |
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JC International English School Nepal |
Nepal |
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JONCTION |
Senegal |
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Jóvenes Unidos en Solidaridad.A.C. |
Mexico |
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Justiça Global |
Brazil |
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Kingsford Legal Centre |
Australia |
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Koorie Women Mean Business Incorporated |
Australia |
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Kuña Roga |
Paraguay |
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Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Centre (LHAHRDEV) |
Nigeria |
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Land Center for Human Rights (LCHR) |
Egypt |
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L'association pour le droit à la langue du pays d'accueil |
France |
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Le Mouvement des Peuples pour l'Education aux Droits Humains (PDHRE/DPEDH-MALI) |
Mali |
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Ligue de droits de l'homme (LDH) |
France |
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Ligue des droits et libertés |
Canada |
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Ligue Française des droits de l’homme |
France |
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Ligue Tunisienne pour la défense des Droits de l'Homme (LTDH) |
Tunisia |
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Lutheran World Federation |
Switzerland |
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Maison des Droits de l'Homme du Cameroun |
Cameroon |
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Medact |
UK |
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Movement against Racism and for Friendship among Peoples |
France |
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Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) |
Nigeria |
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National Association of Community Legal Centres Australia |
Australia |
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National Union of Domestic Employees – NUDE |
Trinidad and Tobago |
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Network Movement for Justice and Development |
Sierra Leone |
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Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum |
Pakistan |
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Palestinian Human Rights Organization (PHRO) |
Lebanon |
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Peacework Development Fund |
Czech Republic/USA |
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People's Health Movement - USA |
USA |
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Peoples Health Movement (PHM) Bangladesh |
Bangladesh |
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People's Movement for Human Rights Learning |
USA |
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PIDHDD – Uruguay |
Uruguay |
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Plataforma DhESCA |
Brazil |
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PRODUSSEP, A. C. |
Mexico |
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Prosalus NGO |
Spain |
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Protection International |
Belgium |
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RADAR- Colectivo de Estudios Críticos en Derecho |
Mexico |
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Rape Crisis Network Ireland |
Ireland |
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Red Nacional de Organismos Civiles "Todos los Derechos para Todas y Todos" |
Mexico |
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Rencontre pour la Paix et les Droits de l'Homme (RPDH) |
Congo-Brazzaville |
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Réseau d'Alerte et d'Intervention pour les Droits de l'Homme |
France |
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RIFONGA |
Benin |
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Ririki Intervencion Social SC |
Mexico |
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Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) |
Nepal |
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SAHRiNGON Tanzania Chapter |
Tanzania |
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Servicio Sudamericano de Noticias |
Argentina |
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Shelter for the Poor |
Bangladesh |
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Social Rights Advocacy Center |
Canada |
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Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination Guyana |
Guyana |
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Terre des Hommes France |
France |
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The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) |
USA |
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The Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) \ L'Alliance canadienne féministe pour l'action internationale (AFAI) |
Canada |
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The Tandem Project - WUNRN |
International |
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Toxina Labs |
Mexico |
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Uganda Environmental Education Foundation(UEEF) |
Uganda |
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Unión de Mujeres de Ixtlahuacan |
Mexico |
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UNSA - French Trade Union |
France |
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Voluntariado Sociedad sin Fronteras México |
Mexico |
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Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) |
Nepal |
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Workers Rights Forum |
Bangladesh |
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World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) |
Switzerland |
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Zi Teng |
Hong Kong |
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Zubaida Noor/The NET |
Pakistan |
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Amnesty International Austria |
Austria |
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International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) |
USA |
Amnesty International 5 June 2008