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UNISON – right to health care
Following attendance by eight organisers from UNISON NI to PPR’s Tools for Action summer school in August, UNISON contracted PPR to train and support organising staff to carry out two campaigns using PPR’s approach within the health sector. UNISON organising staff have identified two distinct campaigns looking at standards within home care and private nursing homes to commence in early 2016.

Destitute Asylum Seekers – right to housing for all
PPR and the Northern Ireland Community of Asylum Seekers and Refugees (NICRAS) have been working together to support a series of Sudanese and Somali families who were subjected to racial attacks yet were not provided considered to be intimidated for the purposes of re-housing by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. With the support of PPR’s Equality Can’t Wait campaign, some of the families are pursuing legal cases while one family, following extensive campaigning and media attention, received intimidation points opening the possibility of establishing a precedent for others in similar situations. From November, NICRAS will be beginning a housing rights campaign with destitute asylum seekers who have been denied access to public support and are being forced into homelessness.

Edinburgh, Scotland: Citadel & Persevere – housing rights in Scotland
In June 2015, PPR visited Edinburgh at the invitation of the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and Edinburgh Tenants Federation (ETF) to meet with a broad range of tenants, activists and officials to explore how to use PPR’s approach in the Scottish context. This visit was followed up in August by seven tenants and staff from SHRC and ETF attending PPR’s Tools for Action school in Belfast, all of whom have now begun working directly with tenants from low and high rise flats in Leith (Citadel & Persevere Towers) using PPR’s human rights based approach. Tenants have held a number of meetings, identified priority issues, designed a housing rights survey and started monitoring conditions with other tenants. Baseline results and a public launch are due to take place in early 2016.

Comlámh – the right to development
In June, PPR were invited to deliver a workshop at Comhlámh’s (the support organisation for Irish oversees development workers) Annual General Meeting in Wicklow. Comhlámh have a long history of leading global solidarity campaigns such as trade justice, gender equality and sustainable development. Following the AGM, Comhlámh member groups are reviewing and refreshing their activism and campaigns in a manner which is member led. PPR will assist them in this process.

Irish Traveller’s (South Tyrone Empowerment Project) – the right to culturally appropriate housing
 In September, PPR were invited to a meeting with members of the Irish travelling community in Coalisland who have been supported by the South Tyrone Empowerment Project in progressing their right to housing. Following the identification of priority issues impacting negatively on them, PPR have carried out a rights based analysis of these issues and are looking to further explore how we can support this community through our growing housing rights network.

Conradh na Gaeilge – Irish language rights
On 24th November, PPR will deliver a one day workshop with the Irish language movement Conradh na Gaeilge to explore how PPR’s human rights based approach can be incorporated into their language activism in both jurisdictions on the island.