The Irish Human Rights Commission will host an international seminar on the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Saturday, 16th April, 2005. The seminar will hear from leading experts on the proposed Convention which represents a major development in the field of human rights for persons with disabilities….
Appointment of Human Rights Commissioner to Steering Group of National Action Plan Against Racism The Irish Human Rights Commission welcomed the announcement made on 10th March to appoint one of its Commissioners, Mr Michael Farrell, to the Steering Committee which will be tasked with ensuring the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism. Speaking…
The Irish Human Rights Commission’s submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women was launched today by The Hon. Justice Catherine McGuinness. In launching the submission, Justice McGuinness said, "In the light of current events, I particularly welcome the stress put on the difficulties experienced by older women – both older…
Ireland will be appearing for the first time before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva on the 2nd and 3rd March 2005. Ireland ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in 2000 and its first National Report under CERD was submitted in early…
The Equality Authority today host a consultation conference with carers and carer organisations. The consultation was organised to assist their work on carer issues. The Equality Authority have convened an advisory committee to prepare a report on implementing equality for carers. Addressing the conference, Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority, highlighted change and diversity…
Significant Award to deter discrimination against those with mental health problems The Equality Authority today welcomed a landmark award totalling €57,900 euros by the Labour Court in respect of an employee who was found to have been discriminated against on the grounds of his disability. The Labour Court was considering two separate claims in relation…
‘Diversity at School’ was launched by the Equality Authority today, Thursday, 27th January, 2005. This new publication explores the issues of diversity across the nine grounds covered by the equality legislation as it relates to equality and education provision. Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority, speaking at the launch stated that “Schools are a…
The Equality Authority has welcomed the significant award made by the Equality Tribunal in a case of sexual harassment and victimisation. The Equality Authority represented the claimant in the case of Ms A vs. A Contract Cleaning Company. The complainant was awarded €21,000, the equivalent of 104 weeks salary which is the maximum allowed under…
Prof. Gerard Quinn Irish Human Rights Commission. Today is international human rights day. It commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948. Importantly, that document goes beyond the libertarian agenda of controlling public power. It also deals with the need to restore power to people over their…
The Disability Bill 2004 marks the cornerstone of Government legislation and policy in the area of disability and the Commission welcomes the decision of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to refer this Bill to the Commission for its views. The Commission’s observations were forwarded to Minister Michael McDowell on 15th November, 2004….