Dec 10: International Human Rights Day Rally

In 2011 Pittsburgh City Council issued a proclamation declaring Pittsburgh the 5th Human Rights 

City in the United States.  It is time for our city to live up to its pledge to protect our citizen’s rights. On December 10th we will highlight the various human rights concerns we want our new mayor to address: 

• Homelessness and poverty 

• Protection for immigrants 

• Education and city schools 

• Worker rights 

• Safe & healthy environment 

• Public transportation 

• Violence, sexism and racism 

For too long, human rights have been treated as a by-product of pro-growth policies.  Policymakers have prioritized the voices of businesses, assuming that when they succeed human rights will automatically improve.  We see all around us that this is not the case.  If we truly value human rights, we need policies that make achieving these rights top priority.

We encourage groups around the city to work to raise awareness of human rights on December 10 when the world recognizes the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Then, join other human rights defenders across the region to mobilize sustained pressure on public officials to make Pittsburgh a “Human Rights City.”  Watch this site for more information on opportunities to help draft the new Human Rights Agenda for Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh will inaugurate a new mayor in early 2014.  Organizers and activists in Pittsburgh are discussing how to bring diverse groups together to advance a human rights agenda for our city. We invite your group to recognize International Human Rights Day on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.Together we will demand that the newly elected mayor Peduto make good on the promises he and others on the City Council made in 2011 to make Pittsburgh a Human Rights City. 

4:30 PM at the City-County Building (414 Grant St., downtown).  For more information contact Scilla Wahrhaftig 412 315 7423