Dear Members and Advocates,
In September 2022, our Florida Action Committee president, Gail Colletta, filed a Complaint with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva Switzerland, entitled “PETITION TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO INVESTIGATE THE UNITED STATES’ SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY AS A VIOLATION OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.“.
That office is the leading United Nations entity in the field of human rights, with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. Every year on December 10th, the world celebrates Human Rights Day, the very day when, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
When a country ratifies (i.e., formally accepts) a U.N. human rights treaty, it becomes obligated to submit regular, periodic reports on its compliance with the treaty’s obligations. These reports are submitted to the treaty monitoring body – or committee – that has been established for each treaty to monitor the compliance of state parties.
The United States government has ratified three of the treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (or ICCPR) in 1992; the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (or CAT) in 1994; and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) also in 1994.
Therefore, the United States is obligated to file periodic compliance reports with the Human Rights Committee under the ICCPR, the Committee Against Torture under the CAT, and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination under the ICERD. The ICCPR report that the US Government submitted 2021 can be read here.
In addition to the report submitted by the U.S. Government, the U.N. Committees encourage active and effective participation of domestic civil society groups in the treaty reporting process, which is essential to a full and accurate review of the U.S.’s human rights record. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as Florida Action Committee (FAC), the Miami Coalition to Advance Racial Equality (MCARE), and other non-profit advocacy groups, can submit reports that highlight issues not raised by their governments or that point out where the government may be misleading the UN committee from the real situation.
In U.N. terminology, this is a called a “shadow report” that is submitted by an NGO to the treaty monitoring bodies that addresses omissions, deficiencies, or inaccuracies in the official government reports. Such information is often vital to assisting U.N. experts in their assessment of a government’s compliance with international human rights treaties. In fact, the official U.N. guidelines for the reporting process anticipate the involvement and consultation of civil society groups during the drafting of the government’s report, but the U.S. government generally has refrained from this type of consultation, which makes the NGO shadow reporting process even more important.
MCARE has been addressing the homeless crisis in Miami Dade, and they recognize that the 2500′ Residency Restrictions placed on registered citizens in that county is one of the contributing factors to the increased homelessness in Miami Dade county. Both MCARE and FAC have been given the opportunity to join a team from the Miami University School of Law to present, in person, our concerns (from our shadow reports) to the U.N. Human Rights committee in Geneva Switzerland next month. While the focus is on the homeless crisis in Miami, the global spotlight will be placed on Florida’s deficiencies and inhumane treatment of our citizens. The visit will also include in-person meetings with U.S. government officials and agencies (such as HUD), and networking with other human rights NGOs with shared issues. The process forges relationships between domestic and international NGOs and U.N. human rights experts, which strengthens the human rights movement both at home and around the world.
Specifically, for FAC, Gail Colletta will be addressing 1) the need to remove residency restrictions, 2) the UN Complaint filed last year, and 3) an update on the change.org petition that continues to gain signatures. FAC, MCARE and the other participants from the team will ask that the U.N. Committee include a stop in Miami on their scheduled US Tour in 2024. That will certainly provide the opportunity for FAC and MCARE to host a public event in Miami that will further raise awareness of the homeless crisis and need to remove ineffective, counterproductive residency restrictions in the state of Florida,
During the month of September 2023, donations made to the FAC General Fund will be applied to the travel expenses for the Geneva Switzerland trip. Donations to FAC can be made online at https://floridaactioncommittee.org/donations/.
If you want to contribute to the matching fund challenge or prefer to make a tax deductible donation to help with the expenses, you can send a check to Justice Transitions/FAC, PO Box 470932, Lake Monroe FL 32747. Please indicate on the memo line how you want your donation to be used.
In the 2024 legislative session, FAC will be certain to let our legislators know that we are placing the spotlight on Florida…statewide, nationwide and globally… to address Florida’s Sex Offender Registry as a violation of human rights and must be abolished.
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee (FAC)
833-273-7325 Option 1
ANNOUCEMENTS
Monday Night Support Group – Open to registered citizens and family members, every Monday at 8pmET. Call 760-548-9898 to participate in a group support call facilitated by FAC Regional Coordinators. Find comfort, motivation and encouragement with other members in this no-judgement zone as they share common concerns and interests.
New Member Orientation Call – Thu Sep 14 at 8pm ET. 319-527-3487. NO Agenda. Call in to learn more about the organization, volunteer opportunities, where to find support, get resources and referrals, or just share information. If you have any problem connecting for free, you can text CALL ME to 319-527-3487 for a call back from Free Conference Call and you will be connected to the meeting at no charge.
Family Support Group – Sat Sep 9 from 11am-1pm. By Invitation only for non-registered family members with loved ones on the Registry. Must be an FAC member. To participate, contact [email protected] or call 833-273-7325, Option 1.
Women’s Group for WFR [Women Forced to Register]. For details and more information, contact Danell at [email protected] or leave message at 772-494-1947.
Legislative Delegation Meetings – Check schedule for meeting near you. This is your opportunity to speak publicly on issues that concern your family and our community. For help in preparing a 3-minute speech, or to learn more about the meetings, join the legislative team by contacting [email protected] or leave message at call 822-273-7325.
MEET and GREETS
Sat Sep 9- Sarasota/Manatee County- 1pm-4pm RSVP to [email protected] or call 941-500-4706
Sat Sep 23- Lee County -Noon – 3pm RSVP to [email protected] or text/call 941-677-3951
Sat Sep 30- Pasco County -2pm-5pm RSVP to [email protected] or call or text 727-999-4716.
Support Staff Needed- If you have some time and want to be more involved, email [email protected] or call 833-273-7325,Option 1.
Staff Writers are needed for articles, posts and Weekly Updates. If you have a story, article or topic of interest to share, please submit it to [email protected]
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PenPal Communications – Respond to letters from inmates seeking information and support. Training provided.
With Unity Comes Change -Get Involved and Volunteer Today!
Florida Action Committee
www.floridaactioncommittee.org
[email protected]
833-273-7325
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United States gets a failing report on homelessness issues
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2023/10/05/18859362.php
@Eugene
So many homeless people are those released from jails and prisons for all sorts of crimes. If it had not been for my Mom and Dad, I would probably be dead by now.
When you get released, they give you a bus ticket home and a kick in the butt. If you have no one and no money, other than a miracle, you are pretty much screwed. Throw being an “EX” sex offender in the mix and you are extra special screwed.
There are a lot of homeless camps around my area and every time they start causing the place to look trashy or someone reports them, they get kicked out and all their stuff is bulldozed over and no trespass signs are put up.
And I cannot blame those who complain, as homeless living in the woods right next to your neighborhood brings down the value of your house.
It is a catch 22 because if everyone spent just 24 hours being homeless, maybe there would be some change. There is a road I drive past once a week and there are two homeless woman who live along a main road fence. In the 7 months they have live there, every time I drive past, they have new items they found somewhere like dressers, that someone threw out, grocery baskets, and even filing cabinets.
i think a few years ago a man from Germany. (fled Florida cause of these laws and has a you tube channel) presented before this council on same thing and nothing happened.
Donating! And to chime in…unlike many other states, Florida requires lifetime registration for folks like me whose adjudication was withheld. We’ve technically never been convicted of a crime, yet we’re sentenced to life on the registry.
I’m so grateful to all who are working so hard to make this happen – thank you!
I just donated $100 to this extremely important effort!
THANK YOU Florida Action Committee !!
I am sure in many of these sex registry ordeals that many are as perplexed as the next person. The question comes up as to why, and also the method used such as one officer saying I know what I did and know how I did it. Sounds like authorities are being their own God and over riding others in this seduction that has been seducing many in this registry issue. Guess how one does things is thru deception in this internet sex registry yet authorities know what they are doing.
Remember God is not the author or confusion. One could look at this registry as some Adam and Eve conspiracy or someone betraying someone else for some demonic gain over another. And of course we all have the right to speak out justly.
I will probably be in Europe then & would like to attend.
Is there a date, time and address/location in Geneva available??
We are trying to find out for you.
If we are off probation, can we attend this is Switzerland? Will they let us into their country after we have to register our intended plans for international travel? If not, this is certainly a talking point at the presentation.
I sent an email to NAACP asking for donations to be sent. I told them to contact you at [email protected]
Since this is racial issue as well I think we should target African American organizations to see if their willing to donate to help fund this trip. I would point out 60 percent of the homeless that they include https://www.homelesstrust.org/resources-homeless/library/august-pit-census-2023.pdf , so almost 2/3 are African Americans. According to M-Care David Peery “Given that Miami’s homeless population is 60 percent Black, this ordinance will create a new Jim Crow,” https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/09/11/miami-beach-ordinance-camping-homeless-vacate hopefully we can get a few more organizations to help chip in.
@Concerned
That was a twist of fate right there.
I would also mention the fact that we are not allowed to take shelter at a shelter during nature disasters
@Tired
And a few registrants have been asked to leave a church because someone recognized them and stirred up hate over love.
True , true sad but true Cherokee. And also people loosing their jobs. Or being refused places to live that fit the rules due to landlords being afraid to rent to us.
That is addressed in the Shadow Report from FAC, which will be posted later this week,
Will you also be issuing a shadow report that homeless registrants are more harshly affected by the registry requirements as they have to report more often and many lack a way to get to the police station every month. Also I would mention that the state keeps people on the list even after they move out of state making the registry a bloated misguided false tool that really doesn’t keep anyone safe also point out how this whole process is prop up by Jag Payne grants that give the states the incentive to carry on this bad faith behavior by keeping even dead people on it. I would also point out the only way off the list is a pardon, that is the only way for a “punishment” to be forgiven and there is no standard procedure to see if you get off.
Another two pronged point is they put us on a registry that is public where anyone can find us, know our status which makes it hard for us to find someone who will give us a chance then anyone on probation is barred from going to bars , or dateing sites or any place we can meet people who are also looking for someone effectively keeping us in a depressed , self loathing and beaten state basically denying us happiness. Then for the lucky ones who have or found someone if you have any kind of E.D. Your not allowed to take anything for it so effectively not allowing a healthy sex life. So all together be alone, be depressed , and be sexually dysfunctional that’s what they want so no normal happy life
Perhaps I’m mistaken, but I am not aware of any legislation in Florida (or anywhere for that matter) that prohibits ED medication/ healthcare for men who need it.
Ok, so Medicare may not cover the costs- that much is true. Which is absurd and terrible
The terms of my probation state you can not use them
Gotcha. Probation is a different thing, hope you can get off of it quickly
That seems unconstitutional. For me, I have to take cialis for urinary retention and high blood pressure, not ED. Several doctors have concurred in this diagnosis and prescription.
Just sayin. For purposes like that they are allowed. It’s only for E.D. Purposes that they are not allowed. They’re thinking is if you have an E.D. Issue and can’t take meds for it you won’t be able to attack no one. It’s stupid thinking just like in Texas where they think castration will stop someone from being able to harm anyone , like penile penetration is the only way harm can be done.
Are they performing chemical castration, which is reversable after treatments are stopped or physical castrations which cannot be reversed?
I know over in some middle Eastern countries they still cut off people’s hands for stealing. My question on that is, after their hand gets cut off and then later the accuser said they lied about the person stealing from then because they were angry, how do you make that right?
You can try telephone dating. It does exist. I can’t speak to the quality of the people however. Use your best judgement like with anything else.
No actually it says no dateing sites and since they can take and go through your cell phone at any time if a dateing site number comes up your toast but thanks for helping
@Up
I guess probation has changed since I was on it over 20 years ago. I went to nightclubs, (And church LOL) theme parks, parks, nature trails and went on dating sites. I was sort of a Don Juan for a while. Then, like you said, we got shut down.
Anybody with a smart phone can snap a photo of us and find out our past with the swipe of a finger. Our past should stay in the past unless we are doing something wrong. The registry is a restriction which is 100% related to punishment regardless of how much they try and justify it is not punitive.
I have not dated in about 10 years and it has always been very lonely. But I do things to keep busy like working on projects in the garage while listening to music.
In looking back on the history of the Miami residency history. I would mention this In looking at Doe vs Miami-Dade Country, Florida court case 2:14-cv-2393 (S.D. Fla 2018) “Residency restrictions, when not carefully considered, can relegate individuals to homelessness or severely limit their housing options, all without clear evidence of a benefit to public safety”. Miami passed the 2,500-foot ordinance in 2005 even during the meeting on November 15,2005 on ordinance 05-206 commissioner Carey-Schuler stated “I like to see them disappear, disappear completely. Another chairman Martinez later suggested that forcing these individuals underground was advantageous because “then they violate probation and go back to prison’ and how would these people find housing chairman Martinez said “The Everglades and hopefully Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and the borders”. https://www.aclu.org/cases/doe-et-al-v-miami-dade-county-et-al these laws all were passed with premeditated malice.
The history of these open meeting shows that they wanted this outcome. This is why not just residency restrictions need to be done away with, but the registry period needs to be done away with. Maslow Hierachy of needs list the basics as Physiolgical needs (air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, reproducation) so being on the registry denies you shelter oppertunies and now they want to making sleeping a crime. so again you have these laws that continually deny us just the basic needs. So how are you allowed to progess to the next step of self worth if Maslow Hierachy of Needs pyramid looks more like a jenga set with key pieces missing only for only registrants it shows that this is all plan malice.
This is a monumental opportunity for us to be heard. Please donate whatever you can.
This is good but does it go far enough? I hope you have contacted other groups like NASOL and others in almost every state that is pushing for not only change but total elimination of the registry. Especially because of its regulations of life long obligations with absolutely no need of any evidence to support it . And these all applied. After there criminal obligations were met.
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
oh Florida is in violation of a bunch of universal rights with the registry. I really do hope FAC mentions that we are only a few remaining states that have no true path off the registry making it a lifetime of punishments.
There are so many countries out there that think the registry is definitely against human rights but are pressured or even worse blackmailed/held hostage into making one of their own by the American government or they will withhold this or that(usually money)
At the very least, it can raise awareness for those who do not know the real story of how we are treated. On the flip side, there will also always be those who hate us so much, they would wish our death and being burned in hot tar in from of a crowd.
There is a group close to where I live that go out on “Predator patrols” (They call all sex offenders predators regardless of being labeled an offender or a predator). I was sitting behind one of their large raised up pick up trucks with a confederate flag and a sticker on their back window of the truck that said “Kill your local predator”.
Once the traffic light changed, I said in my head “Watch them turn into the gun range up ahead”. To no surprise at all, that is exactly what they did. If it wasn’t for their hate filled sticker, I would have laughed about stereotyping them turning into the gun range.
Dear Cherokee and all who may be concerned about these “predator patrols”, look who is really behind them.
https://news.yahoo.com/retired-cop-teacher-predator-patrol-013500440.html
There is a reason many get involved in these predator patrols and legitimate organizations that work to protect children. It provides both cover and, in some cases, access. This article again illustrates that the danger to children is overwhelmingly from people who are not on the registry. These protective organizations might be better served by taking on registrants as volunteers. Registrants rarely recidivate and the organization would be aware of their status.
@Ed
Sadly, the counter to that theory is, registered citizens do not reoffend because the registry is working.
Now pat the registry law makers on the back and give them more funding.
Registry cannot stop anyone from offending. The day I got arrested was my moment of truth, not the registry. It is a bunch of hog feces that the registry is not punishment. If it was not punishment, there would be a registry for every crime. That is why they do not make more of them, the rebellion would shut down the country. And you can take that to the bank.
I’ve heard that argument, and it is bogus. Studies have shown that recidivism has not been positively affected by the registry. Rates are essentially the same before and after registries. Of course those who make that assertion are the same who ignore data. Changing their minds is simply p***ing into the wind.
This is HUGE. Need I say more?