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WHEREAS, the United Nations passed a Resolution proclaiming the year commencing on December 10, 2008 the international Year of Human Rights Learning, spurring a movement devoted to increasing awareness about human rights violations and promoting education about human rights issues; and,
WHEREAS, One such initiative that resulted from the United Nations' Resolution is the “Human Rights City” project that aims to develop “Human Rights Cities” throughout the world in an attempt to build infrastructure for racial justice, conflict prevention, human security, sustainable development, and create a place for active civic engagement at the local, national, and global level; and,
WHEREAS, a Human Rights City is one whose residents and local authorities, through on-going discussions and creative exchanges of ideas, come to understand that human rights, when widely known as a way of life, assist in identifying the issues and inform the actions in the community, for meaningful, positive economic and social change; and,
WHEREAS, as a Human Rights City, Pittsburgh will be joining other human rights cities around the world in working to provide leadership and advocacy to secure, protect, and promote human rights for all people; and,
WHEREAS, being a Human Rights City makes it a model for communities in the U.S. and around the world to witness practical ways the human rights framework can make every citizen a partner of sustainable change; and,
WHEREAS, locally, the Racial Justice through Human Rights Program of the American Friends Service Committee PA has partnered with Pittsburgh Cares, Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy to create a curriculum to educate youth about racial justice and human rights issues. This group of dedicated individuals has been leading the way on human rights issues;
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby affirm its commitment to human rights by declaring Pittsburgh a “HUMAN RI...
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