New Disability Advisory Committee Begins its Work

This week, eleven people were formally appointed by the Commission to serve on the first ever statutory advisory committee in Ireland to support monitoring of Ireland’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The Disability Advisory Committee, made up of a majority of people with disabilities has been brought together by the Commission to support its statutory function of monitoring Ireland’s implementation of the UN Convention.

The CRPD was ratified in March 2018, more than a decade after being first signed by Ireland, and is now in force. Ireland is expected to produce its first report to the United Nations in Geneva on its implementation of the Convention in 2020. Article 33 of the Convention requires an independent mechanism to monitor the implementation, a role which will be fulfilled by the Commission. Full details of the Disability Advisory Committee and individual biographies are available here. 

Resources
Members of the Disability Advisory Committee

Related Media
Irish Examiner
Commission media release

Oireachtas Committee told of “Significant Gaps” in Human Rights and Equality Protections under Withdrawal Agreement

Last week, the Joint Committee of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, established under the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, addressed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality invited Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and Les Allamby, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights to appear. The two Chief Commissioners pointed to significant gaps which remain in the protection of human rights and equality under the proposed UK Withdrawal Agreement:  

1. The actual extent of protections provided by the UK Government’s “no diminution of rights” commitment 
2. The UK’s decision to no longer be bound by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights 
3. The legal basis for the Common Travel Area (CTA) 
4. The rights of citizens 
5. Justice arrangements to be agreed 
6. Possible future divergence on rights protections 
7. Strength of the dedicated mechanism

Resources
Joint Committee on Justice and Equality debate - Rights and Equality in the Context of Brexit
Policy statement on the United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union
Related Media
Belfast Telegraph article
ITV News article
Irish Independent article
Irish Times article 
Commission media release

Commission Warns of Threat to Active Civil Society from Current Legislation

The Commission set out its recommendations to Government and Oireachtas members in its role as Ireland’s National Human Rights and Equality body, in light of concerns that application of the 1997 Electoral Act (as amended) may be having a chilling effect on the funding and activities of civil society organisations involved in legitimate advocacy.

In its policy statement, the Commission set out the need for a review of the Electoral Acts to consider how the State ensures an enabling legal framework and a conducive political and public environment for civil society.

Resources
Policy Statement of the Electoral Acts and Civil Society Space in Ireland

Human Rights and Equality Grants 2018 Announced

The Commission recently announced the 25 organisations awarded a total of €350,000 in funding for projects under its Human Rights and Equality Grants Scheme 2018.

In awarding the 2018 grants the Commission focused on two overarching themes, in line with its strategic focus: Intercultural understanding and diversity and Supporting implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty.

The grant awards include support for research, education and training on human rights and equality, activities for promoting the integration of migrants and other minorities, equality including gender equality, and respect for diversity and cultural difference.

Now in its third year, the Human Rights and Equality Grants Scheme 2018 was open to Irish based groups working to further human rights and equality in communities and nationally, including local groups, civil society groups, and public bodies.

Resources
Human Rights and Equality Grant Awardees 2018
Related Media
Commission Media Release

New Research Sets Out Experiences of Racial Discrimination in the Labour Market

Resources
Ethnicity and Nationality in the Labour Market report

Related Media
The Times (ROI) article
Irish Examiner article
RTÉ article
The Journal article
Commission media release