The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) today told the United Nations Human Rights Council that progress on implementing the recommendations set out in the Report on Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review should underscore Ireland’s application for membership of the Human Rights Council.
In its oral and written presentations, the IHRC drew the Human Rights Council’s attention to the need for concrete action on the rights of women, people with disabilities, Travellers, prisoners, asylum seekers, migrant workers and children as well as in the areas of poverty, health, education, and training of the civil and public service.
Speaking in Dublin, Dr Maurice Manning, President of the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said
"the IHRC welcomes the commitments the Government has made to the UN Human Rights Council to strengthen human rights in Ireland across a range of areas. Ireland’s implementation of the Human Rights Council’s recommendations must be a benchmark against which its application for membership of the Council is assessed. This means the Government needs to make serious, sustained and quantifiable progress on the recommendations. This can best be achieved through a National Action Plan on Human Rights. In order to monitor progress on implementing the recommendations, there must be specific guarantees put in place by the Government including ensuring that there are sufficient resources for the proposed new Human Rights and Equality Commission to fulfil its functions."
Dr Manning continued
"In the current economic situation, it is vital that Government policies are not regressive such that they do not foster inequality. In addition to its commitments to sign and ratify the individual complaints mechanism under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Government should carry out human rights assessments of the impact its policy choices will have on people in vulnerable or disadvantaged situations. Mainstreaming human rights education and training for civil and public servants, currently being provided by the IHRC, is key to such safeguards being put in place."
Speaking on other concrete actions that need to be taken, Mr Des Hogan, Acting Chief Executive of the IHRC said
"The Government should, without delay, ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture which requires that an independent national mechanism to monitor places of detention, based on the criteria for the independence of such bodies set out in the United Nations Paris Principles, be established. Similarly, an independent monitoring mechanism, as required under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, should be designated and start its work this year. The remit of the Ombudsman for Children should be extended to include children in prisons. Human Rights standards clearly prohibit any child being detained in an adult prison."
Mr Hogan continued
"Swift legislative action is needed to protect the rights of vulnerable migrant workers including domestic workers. We also regret that the Government is not fully committed to recognising Traveller ethnicity."
In conclusion, Mr Hogan said
"The IHRC’s other concerns centre on our call on the Government to legislate for more measures to increase women’s participation in public life; for independent monitoring and recording of racist incidents; for a clearly enforceable right to health, and for equal access to education for all children regardless of religious or philosophical belief. We also look forward to the independent report on women in Magdalene Laundries later this year and expect the Government to act on its recommendations swiftly."
ENDS/
Spokespersons are available for comment
For further information, please contact
Fidelma Joyce, IHRC
Tel: 01 8589601 Mob: 087 783 4939
Notes to Editor
- The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC), as Ireland’s National Human Rights Institution, will speak at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council at the adoption of the report on Ireland’s human rights record on Thursday 15 March 2012 (11am-12noon, Irish Time). Kirsten Roberts, Acting Deputy Chief Executive will deliver the 2 minute oral statement to the Human Rights Council on behalf of the IHRC.
- On 6 October 2011, the Government appeared before the Human Rights Council to be examined on its human rights record under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Following the UPR, the Government publically accepted 62 recommendations. It rejected 15 recommendations and committed to considering another 49 recommendations in advance of the meeting on 15 March 2012. At the Human Rights Council, the Government will indicate which other recommendations it accepts.
- Ireland will be required to provide an interim report on the progress it is making on implementing the recommendations it has agreed to implement.
- The Hearing before the UN Human Rights Committee will be streamed live on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) website on 15 March. http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/c/un-human-rights-council.html
- In addition to its oral statement, the IHRC will be tabling a longer written statement which will be available at 11am, 15 March 2012 on www.ihrc.ie