Today, the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights open a two-day roundtable entitled ‘Domestic Protection of Human Rights – Strengthening National Structures’. The meeting will discuss how national human rights institutions across Europe can strengthen their role in protecting and promoting human rights in their respective countries. It is the 5th roundtable organised between the Commissioner and National Human Rights Institutions.
At the event, representatives of the Council of Europe, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency will stress the vital role of strong and independent human rights institutions in protecting human rights at domestic level and their complementarity with the work of international human rights organisations.
2008 is a year of important anniversaries for human rights. It is the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 15th Anniversary of the UN Paris Principles and for the Irish Human Rights Commission it is the 10th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which set in train the establishment of Ireland’s national human rights body.
Dr Maurice Manning, President of the IHRC said: "over the coming two days we will discuss the increasing importance which national human rights structures play in protecting human rights at national level and how we can strengthen our institutions."
Dr Manning continued: "The changing nature of many countries in Europe, not least Ireland, resulting from developments in demography, the impact of globalisation and technology makes the application of human rights standards at the same time both more complicated and more essential. Effective and independent institutions which provide credible advice and which monitor human rights questions can only be to the benefit of everyone in Europe."
Mr Éamonn MacAodha, Chief Executive of the IHRC said: "As chair of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions, the IHRC looks forward to welcoming the heads of human rights institutions from across Europe as well as representatives from partner organisations such as the Council of Europe, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. The Dublin Conference will provide further opportunities to engage with the latest international developments on human rights law and practice."
Mr Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights said that "national structures are key partners of international organisations in the common effort to raise the standards of domestic human rights protection. It is of utmost importance that their independence and effectiveness are ensured and protected. My experience is that these independent bodies are of the greatest importance in the defence of human rights all over Europe."
Human rights Institutions from more than 40 European countries are attending the Conference, which the IHRC is co-hosting as chair of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions. Speakers from a range of European human rights institutions, including Georgia, Slovenia, Greece, Scotland and Denmark will discuss both the successes and challenges they face in ensuring law, policy and practice meet international human rights standards, how they seek effective redress for rights violations, and the importance of effective awareness and education initiatives to ensure that human rights are promoted throughout their societies. The Conference will also hear from Dr Kevin McNamara, former Labour MP and Professor Michael O’Flaherty, Irish Member of the UN Human Rights Committee, who will give the keynote address.
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For further information
Please contact Fidelma Joyce, IHRC, Mob: 08 783 4939