The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) today welcomed the publication of the report on Human Rights in Ireland by Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Council of Europe Commissioner’s report particularly highlights the risk to human rights of budget cuts. The Commissioner calls for more protection of the rights of a range of groups including women, older people, children in detention or care of the State, transgender people, Travellers, people with disabilities, immigrants and people seeking asylum. The report strongly encourages Ireland to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a matter of priority and to sign and ratify the new Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.
Dr Maurice Manning, President of the IHRC, welcoming the report by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights said
"this report raises and reiterates many of the human rights concerns that the IHRC has highlighted on numerous occasions in the past. In relation to those recommendations in the report which the Commission has itself previously highlighted it is time for the Government to take action to address these issues and demonstrate its commitment to meeting its outstanding human rights obligations, particularly in advance of Ireland’s examination by the UN Human Rights Council in October."
Dr Manning continued:
"I also welcome the importance the Commissioner for Human Rights placed on enhancing the effectiveness and independence of existing human rights bodies as core to human rights protection in times of budget cuts. His statement that they should be exempted from the current moratorium on recruitment in the public sector is especially timely."
Mr Éamonn Mac Aodha, Chief Executive of the IHRC said
"the stress placed in the report on the need to protect groups in vulnerable circumstances from the worst impact of budgetary proposals and structural reforms, including people with disabilities and Travellers, is particularly important in the current economic climate. The IHRC will continue to be particularly vigilant in monitoring this area."
ENDS/
For further information, please contact:
Fidelma Joyce, IHRC, Tel: 01 8589601, Mob: 087 7834939
Notes to the Editor
- Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Report on Ireland
Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights visited Ireland in June 2011.
The Report and Press Release is available on the website of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.