Penal Reform International (PRI) and the International Human Rights Law Group (Law Group – invite a member of your organization to take part in a strategy meeting that will bring together approximately 30 participants internationally to further develop goals and interests to work together to combat racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance within the criminal justice system.
The meeting will take place April 5-6, 2003 in Geneva and will bring together representatives from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as well as activists and subject area experts. The strategy meeting is planned to coincide with the 59th session of the Commission on Human Rights, held in the offices of United Nations, that will take place between March 17 and April 24, 2003.
Both PRI and the Law Group played a major role in NGO outreach and coalition building for the UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR) that took place August 27 - September 8, 2001 in Durban, South Africa. The upcoming strategy meeting organized by PRI and the Law Group will provide an opportunity for groups to continue the advocacy, lobbying, networking, and information sharing that took place in Durban.
Specifically, the goals of the strategy meeting in April include the following:
Further develop information sharing and networking among NGOs
Identify specific priorities for advocacy and action
Develop concrete strategies to work together to address specific problems of racism and discrimination within criminal justice systems
Outline and begin developing a policy paper aimed at decision-makers at the international, regional, and local levels to address racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance within criminal justice systems
Examine ways to support the development of education and training material for actors working within the criminal justice system.
We are interested in determining who from your organization will be available to take part in the Durban follow-up meeting. We would also be interested in getting your recommendations for 1-2 other individuals from other organizations to invite to participate in the meeting.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions that you may have by e-mail at . You may also reach me by phone in PRI’s Paris office at (331) 48 03 90 01.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Terrance Pitts
Anti-Racism Programme Co-ordinator
PRI PARIS: 40 rue du Château d'Eau, 75010 Paris, France
Tel: + 33 1 48 03 90 01 Fax: + 33 1 48 03 90 20