"Wilful blindness on the part of states to the ultimate purpose of extra-ordinary renditions is unacceptable. The focus on this matter must be on the purpose of renditions. Where there is a risk of torture, there shouldn’t be any resort to diplomatic assurances" stated Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at a meeting with the IHRC today.
The High Commissioner was visiting the IHRC to discuss a range of human rights issues. "We very much welcome the comments of the High Commissioner on the issue of extra-ordinary renditions and her supportive attitude on other issues in which the IHRC are actively engaged including the drafting of the proposed UN Disability Treaty and the position of migrants in Ireland and we welcome her encouragement to the Irish Government to sign the Convention on the Rights of Migrants" stated Commissioner Michael Farrell who chaired the meeting.
“The Irish Human Rights Commission is delighted to receive a visit from the UN High Commissioner, Louise Arbour. She has shown a keen interest in the important role played by national human rights institutions in safeguarding human rights at the domestic level and regards them as national partners of her office. She is also supportive of national institutions having an independent voice in inter-governmental fora" said the Chief Executive of the IHRC, Dr. Alpha Connelly.
For further information, please contact:
Mary Ruddy
Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer
Irish Human Rights Commission.
Jervis House,
Jervis Street,
Dublin 1.
Tel. 01 8589 601
Mobile: 087 2400695
E-mail: info@ihrc.ie
Website : http://www.ihrc.ie
Note for Editor
ABOUT OHCHR
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) helps protect and promote all human rights around the world. Headquartered in Geneva, the Office is also present in over 40 countries. OHCHR works to ensure the enforcement of universally recognized human rights norms, including through promoting both the universal ratification and implementation of human rights treaties and respect for the rule of law. It also aims to remove obstacles to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent or stop human rights abuses. For more information please visit www.ohchr.org
About the High Commissioner
The High Commissioner is the principal UN official with responsibility for human rights and is accountable to the Secretary-General. The post of High Commissioner was created in 1993. The first person to hold the post was José Ayala Lasso, a former Foreign Minister from Ecuador, who was succeeded by Mary Robinson in 1997. Mr. Vieira de Mello assumed the job on 12 September 2002 before being killed in a bombing in Iraq in 2003. Louise Arbour of Canada has been the High Commissioner for Human Rights since July 2004.