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Ireland to be quizzed on human rights record in Geneva

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Ireland to be quizzed on human rights record in Geneva

Ireland will be quizzed on abortion law, disability rights and discrimination before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) next week.

Nine countries have submitted advance questions on Ireland’s human rights record ahead of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) examination which takes place next Wednesday 11 May 2016.

The UPR is a peer-to-peer review process in which each of the 193 United Nations states voluntarily submit themselves for a review of their domestic human rights record every four and a half years.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is expected to address the advance questions and other issues raised at the meeting.

The full list of advance questions, available here, includes:

  • What measures is the Government planning to take to meet the critical needs of homeless people and those who are at great risk of becoming homeless? (Germany)

  • What plans does the Government of Ireland have to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? (Germany, Sweden and the UK)

  • Which specific measures did the Government of Ireland adopt and does it plan to adopt in order to eliminate the marginalization of and discrimination against Travellers? Has the Government taken any steps towards recognizing Travellers as a distinct ethnic group? (Czech Republic)

    • The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has invited memebers of the public to watch the examination live from 1pm at Goldsmiths Hall, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8.

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