Consultation on Race, Criminal Justice, and Human Rights

The UNA-USA Southern New York State Division held a consultation to contribute to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Human Rights in the U.S. in relation to race, criminal justice, human rights, and child immigrants on July 8th at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice in New York City. The UPR allows civil society to review the country's policies and actions and to make recommendations.

Participants representing diverse organizations, ages, ethnicities and experiences discussed these matters to contribute to the Division's report. The second aim focused on next steps – what we can do in UNA, cooperating organizations, and in our communities to improve U.S. actions in these areas.

Panelists included:
Luis R. Sepúlveda - NY State Senator; Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Chair, 32nd Senate District
Jose A. Saldana - Director, Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP Campaign)
Ames Grawert - Senior Counsel, William G. Brennan Center for Criminal Justice Child Immigration Policies and Experience
Smita Rao Dazzo, JD, MA - Director, Legal Services, HIAS
William Silverman, JD – Partner, Proskauer, responsible for leading Proskauer’s global pro bono efforts.

See links below for resources used during the consulation:

• https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/un-report-on-racial-disparities/
• https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/help-photos-show-hundreds-migrants-squashed-cells-appealing-assistance-n1025831?fbclid=IwAR1vxvCQgFW9g_F7q3D3mi0vuzwjlxJdkcvRQm17BUd2rq8EAxQ4AkFwxaY
• https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2019-07/OIG-19-51-Jul19_.pdf