The UN and other regional human rights bodies engage in a variety of activities that seek to protect, monitor, and advance human rights worldwide. One tool for human rights compliance is that of monitoring and reporting on human rights conditions. The below list of resources include communications to and from Human Rights Monitoring Bodies relevant to the Coalition's Racial Justice project. To learn more about Human Rights Monitoring Bodies, click here.

Joint Report on the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Submitted to U.N. Universal Period Review (2010)

A coalition of stakeholders submitted a joint report in April, 2010 to the U.N. Universal Periodic Review calling for the effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Midwest Coalition for Human Rights endorsed this report in August, 2010.

Universal Periodic Review is a human rights mechanism established in 2006 and administered by the UN Human Rights Council which periodically evaluates the human rights record of Member States to the United Nations. The United States will be evaluated for the first time by the Ninth Session Working Group on the UPR in November of 2010. As a part of this process, civil society organizations submit reports concerning human rights violations occurring in the United States.

View the report on the U.S. Human Rights Network website

Report of the Special Rappertour on the Right to Housing (2010)

The United Nations Special Rappertour on the right to adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, made an official visit to the United States in October and November of 2009 to asses the housing situation. The right to adequate housing is a component of the human right to an adequate standard of living and, within the context of the United States, the human right to non-discrimination. In particular, Ms. Rolnik examined subsidized housing programs, the homeless situation, and the forclosure crisis. This report discusses the Special Rappertour's findings in terms of U.S. compliance with human rights law with regards to housing.

View the report

Report of the Special Rapporteur on Racism (2009)

At the official invitation of the United States government, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism, Dr. Doudou Diene of Senegal, visited the U.S. from May 19 to June 6, 2008, to meet with government officials, non-governmental organizations, and victims of racial discrimination.

During his three-week mission, the Rapporteur visited New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, Omaha, Honolulu, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dr. Diene met with federal and local officials, lawmakers, and judicial authorities, along with representatives from civil society organizations and victims.

According to a UN statement, the main objective of this visit was for the Rapporteur to “gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.” Upon completion of his three-week mission, and after an official debriefing meeting with the U.S. government, Mr. Diene discussed his preliminary findings, conclusions, recommendations, and opinions concerning his visit during a press conference on June 6, 2008. A formal report was submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council in May 2009.

Dr. Diene’s visit to the U.S. is considered highly unprecedented. This visit was arranged by the U.S. Department of State, and was a rare official visit by the United Nations to monitor, advise, and publicly report on human rights situations in the country.

View the Report

MCHR Responds to the Special Rapporteaur Visit (2008)

During his visit to Chicago on May 23 and 24 of 2008 Dr. Diene met with local officials, including Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and members of the Chicago City Council, as required by his mandate. He also met with non-governmental organizations and victims of racial discrimination who provided testimony on a variety of prevalent issues at a public hearing held at the University of Chicago.

MCHR Member, Coalition to Protect Public Housing (CPPH), was asked to host Dr. Diene by the national coordinating committee and helped to lead the organization effort in Chicago. The Midwest Coalition, and its member organizations, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and Heartland Alliance, along with individual advisor, Joey Mogul of the People’s Law Office, actively worked with CPPH on coordinating Dr. Diene's visit to the city.

The public hearing provided the Midwest Coalition and its members an opportunity to highlight trouble spots in the city, discuss community issues in a human rights framework, and promote model programs for addressing social issues. Testimony was provided on racial discrimination practices with respect to housing, homelessness and poverty, police brutality, juvenile justice, education, and Islamophobia.

In conjunction to verbal and written testimony, Dr. Diene was also given a tour of the Cabrini Green housing community and areas on the South and West Sides of Chicago.

A reception was also held to welcome Dr. Diene to Chicago at DePaul University College of Law. This event provided the public, the organizers, and the participants a chance to meet with Dr. Diene and his delegation and engage in a one-on-one discussion regarding his work, experiences, and insight on racial discrimination practices around the world.

Both of the public events enjoyed great turnout and provided the Rapporteur with the information and insight he needed from folks on the ground.

Videos from the hearing, including testimony by MCHR members and Dr. Diene’s opening remarks at the Public Hearing, are on our YouTube and Hub Channels, and on Facebook

Shadow Report on International Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Racial Discrimination

In December, 2007 a group of Chicago-based organizations, including multiple MCHR members, submitted a Shadow Report to the United Nations outlining the effects of racial discrimination on the residents of the city of Chicago. The report identified issues in the areas of poverty, health, housing, education, transportation and criminal justice. The report requests that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination pressure the U.S. government to develop strategies that comply with the International Convention to End All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The report additionally offers direct recommendations for the city of Chicago.

The shadow report was submitted on behalf of the Developing Government Accountability to the People (DGAP) network. The DGAP network comprises over 30 organizations working for government accountability and human rights in the Chicago region led by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Pilsen Alliance, and the Coalition to Protect Public Housing.

View the Report