Following a first-ever meeting of its kind at the White House under the Biden Administration, 45 civil society organizations will meet with representatives including from the Vice President's Office and nine federal agencies to discuss implementing human rights obligations here at home in the United States, beginning with creating a National Human Rights Institution to ensure federal state and local policies and practices align with international human rights standards.

When: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 1:30 pm Eastern (10:30 am PT / 11:30 am MT / 12:30 pm CT)

Speakers: Representatives from U.S. civil society organizations reflecting the national, state, local, and Indigenous organizations at the meeting who are concerned about human rights gaps on a wide range of issues including racial justice, criminal legal reform, women’s rights, immigration, Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and voting rights. Key points:  

• Why the White House inter-agency meeting is being held now

• The imperative of implementing human rights treaties here at home

• How a National Human Rights Institution could facilitate implementation

• Administration’s racial equity orders and plans on issues like policing and related matters and concrete steps to honor U.S. human rights obligations 

Where: National Press Club, First Amendment Room, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045 (livestream)

Background:  Over the last several years, United Nations treaty body reviews and other mechanisms have made recommendations to the United States on how to close the gap between U.S. human rights obligations and insufficient domestic policies and practices:

• UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2022

• UN Human Rights Committee in 2023

• Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement in 2023

The wide-ranging recommendations of these UN bodies, which have been informed by input from civil society organizations, begin with urging the United States to create an independent national human rights body to oversee the implementation and monitor compliance with international treaty obligations. As a follow-up to the UN human rights reviews, the White House will host a first-of-its-kind meeting between 45 civil society representatives and nine government agencies on September 18th from 10 am - 12 pm to talk about the next steps to honor the U.S.’ commitment to protecting human rights here at home during the remainder of the Biden Administration and making robust recommendations for the next president.