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Call to Action: UN Universal Periodic Review to assess<br>
U.S. compliance with human rights obligations<br><br>
The United States is a member of the United Nations Human Rights<br>
Council (HRC) and will be reviewed for the first time this year by<br>
the HRC's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in November<br>
2010. Under the UPR all 192 UN member States (countries) are
reviewed<br>
every 4 years to assess compliance with their obligations to respect<br>
and implement human rights for all. The review is based on
each<br>
country's national report as well as independent submissions from<br>
"civil society stakeholders," including Indigenous Peoples.
<br><br>
The Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee is participating in<br>
the national report in a number of different ways, but we can't be<br>
in all places at one time. Therefore, we're asking supporters
to<br>
attend the U.S. State Department's "listening sessions" around
the<br>
country and speak up on Leonard's behalf. While five sessions
have<br>
already occurred, there are still five locations where sessions will<br>
occur during the next several weeks. These are unique
opportunities<br>
to bring attention to Leonard's case and the human rights violations<br>
to which he has been subjected by the U.S. government. <br><br>
Session Schedule<br><br>
-- El Paso, TX, on March 8-9; Location: Camino Real Hotel<br><br>
-- Birmingham, AL, on March 11-12, Location: Miles College<br><br>
-- New Mexico, on March 16 and 17; Locations: UNM Law School (16th);
Window<br>
Rock, Navajo Nation (17th). The NM sessions have been planned<br>
specifically for Indigenous Peoples and Nations, to receive input<br>
for its national report. Focus themes for the Albuquerque
session<br>
will include Sovereignty and Self Determination, Nation to Nation<br>
Relations, Lands, Territories and Natural Resources,<br>
Treaty Rights and Sacred Sites among others. <br><br>
-- Chicago, IL, Date TBC, Location: TBC<br><br>
-- San Francisco, CA, on March 25-26, Location TBC (USF Law School<br>
and/or Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley)<br><br>
Although these cities have been confirmed, in some cases the meeting<br>
sites and/or local contact organizations are still being worked out<br>
with the onsite hosts and Coordinating Committees. The best contact<br>
at this time for specific information about the rest of these<br>
listening sessions and who you can contact for more information<br>
about participation is Sarah Paoletti, Senior Coordinator for<br>
the US Human Rights Network UPR Project. She can be reached<br>
paoletti@law.upenn.edu . You can also contact Laura Baum,
USHRN<br>
Staff Coordinator at lbaum@ushrnetwork.org. <br><br>
A word from Leonard: He's pleased that supporters are stepping up<br>
to speak on his behalf this way. He thanks you and asks only
that<br>
you do your homework. It's imperative that you relay complete
and<br>
accurate information. <br><br>
If you need assistance with preparing your statement for a session,<br>
contact us. We'll be happy to brainstorm with you.
Otherwise,<br>
we recommend that you use "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" by
Peter<br>
Matthiessen as your source material. <br><br>
<br>
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee<br>
PO Box 7488 - Fargo, ND 58106<br>
(701) 235-2206 (Phone); (701) 235-5045 (Fax)<br>
<a href="http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/" eudora="autourl">
www.whoisleonardpeltier.info<br>
</a>contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info<br><br>
<br>
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