Publications
In Part 1 of these observations, the Commission provides views on the specific wording in the Bill and Ireland’s obligations to transpose the Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA (the ‘Victims’ Directive’).
In Part 2, the Commission draws attention to a number of areas which have been identified as particularly challenging in advancing victims’ rights in Ireland.
Leagtar amach sa bhileog eolais seo roinnt céimeanna ar féidir le comhlachtaí poiblí a ghlacadh chun cúrsaí chearta daonna agus comhionannais a chur san áireamh ina gcuid oibre.
This easy to read document was developed by Inclusion Ireland for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to explain some of the issues in the IHREC’s CEDAW report. The document was proof-read by men and women with disability.
IHREC’s consultation on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. The story of where we went, who we met and what they said.
IHREC Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on Ireland’s combined sixth and seventh periodic reports
Overview of issues and recommendations contained in IHREC’s submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
This case and related cases raise significant human rights issues with regard to the segregation of juvenile prisoners in circumstances where each applicant claims to have been confined to their cell, without respite for a period of weeks, in conditions they allege amount to solitary confinement. These legal submissions apply to all four cases. The Commission, which has been given liberty to appear as amicus curiae in all four cases, has undertaken not to entrench on factual matters but will seek to set out the general principles applicable to the practice of solitary confinement.
The court has ordered a reporting restriction in relation to these proceedings and none of the applicants may be identified.
The Commission welcomes the publication of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 (the ‘Bill’) in December 2016. It notes that a significant number of additional provisions are proposed to be introduced at the Committee Stage of the parliamentary debate. Prior to the publication of the Bill, the Commission published legislative observations on the General Scheme of the Equality / Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (the ‘General Scheme of the Bill’),4 and while these legislative observations are of continued relevance, the Commission takes the opportunity to provide a brief supplementary comment following publication of the Bill.
This submission is the IHREC’s contribution to a major consultation conducted by European Commission in 2016 on the draft ‘European Pillar of Social Rights’. The Pillar of Social Rights outlines proposed non-binding EU standards in twenty social policy domains. The IHREC’s main recommendations are (a) that the European Commission ensure that each of the proposed standards undergo an equality mainstreaming evaluation; (b) that the revised draft of the European Pillar of Social Rights demonstrates how each principle reflects the requirements of European human rights law; and (c) that the Pillar of Social Rights be strengthened by setting out the steps that will be taken to reform EU law on social rights
The purpose of this submission is to summarise Ireland’s human rights and equality obligations where they are applicable to the Citizens’ Assembly’s current discussions on Article 40.3.3° of the Irish Constitution. IHREC Submission to the Citizens’ Assembly December 2016
This factsheet outlines the key points on the budget cycle from the Stability Programme Update to Budget day itself. Budget Proofing for Human Rights and Equality Factsheet 4: The Budget Process
This factsheet outlines some of the reforms which are relevant to the development of the budget proofing process. Budget Proofing for Human Rights and Equality Factsheet 3: Budgetary Institutions – What’s Changing?
This factsheet describes the background of budget proofing in Ireland and details some recommendations for future work in this area. Budget Proofing for Human Rights and Equality Factsheet 2: Budget Proofing – Background and Some Learning
This factsheet identifies some core principles that are relevant to realising social, economic and cultural rights. Budget Proofing for Human Rights and Equality Factsheet 1: Realising Rights – Key Principles
Amicus Curiae submission to the Court of Appeal Balchand & Ors v Minister for Justice and Equality & Luximon & Ors v Minister for Justice and Equality
The Attorney General v. Eric Eoin Marques / Eric Eoin Marques v. The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General.
Court of Appeal – June 2016
The Commission addresses two issues:
(a) the practice in the United States of America of taking into account, when sentencing, matters other than those of which a person is convicted.
(b) whether the DPP was obliged to provide reasons for her decision not to prosecute the Appellant.
The Attorney General v. Eric Eoin Marques Eric Eoin Marques v. The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General. Court of Appeal. June 2016
The Commission welcomes the upcoming Second Evaluation Round by the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (‘GRETA’) and the opportunity to make a submission in advance of GRETA’s country visit.
IHREC Submission to GRETA 2016
In these recommendations, the Commission provides substantive observations on the following Heads of the General Scheme of the Bill: Head 1: Reasonable accommodation Head 2: National mechanisms Head 3: Deprivation of liberty Head 10: Amendment of Equal Status Act 2000-2015 Head 11: Amendment of Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 observations-on-the-general-scheme-equality-disability-miscellaneous-provisions-bill
The Commission was formed through the merger of the former Equality Authority and the former Human Rights Commission, both of which undertook significant work on education and, respectively, equality and human rights. These observations draw on the insights gained from that work, including knowledge of the practical barriers that students have faced in securing admission to school in ways that have undermined their right to not be discriminated against or that limit the full realisation of their human rights, and knowledge of the practices of some schools after admission that affect the full realisation of the students’ rights.
The Commission highlights some relevant obligations under Section 42 (Public Sector Duty) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, under international human rights law, along with a number of other observations, which should be given due consideration during the drafting of the Strategy for the Rental Sector.