Coalition of Irish civil society organisations to host human rights meeting in Geneva

A coalition of Irish civil society organisations will today highlight key human rights issues at a meeting in Geneva.

The Your Rights Right Now coalition, which incorporates the Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) as well as 17 advocacy groups, charities, legal organisations and trade unions, has organised the meeting to prepare for Ireland’s examination by the UN Human Rights Council this May.

Today’s meeting is expected to be attended by a number of UN diplomats and representatives from the embassies and missions.

Deirdre Duffy, deputy director of the ICCL, said: “Today UN diplomats will have the opportunity to hear from Irish civil society groups on a range of matters including, lack of access to abortion healthcare in Ireland, failure to ratify important international instruments on disability and ill-treatment, the absence of recognition of Travellers as an ethnic minority and the ongoing failure to address the right to adequate housing in a clear and timely manner.”

The next Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Ireland’s human rights record will take place at the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday 11 May 2016.

Ms Duffy said: “The new cabinet will have its feet under the table by the time Ireland is due before the UN Human Rights Council and we will be interested to hear what the Irish State informs the UN regarding its protection of the most vulnerable in the wake of the economic crisis, which was a commitment made four years ago.

“In taking up the mantle, we hope that the incoming government will deliver a concrete and timely plan for UPR follow up, as a means of displaying their pledge to the protection and promotion of human rights.”