In October 2011, Ireland will be examined for the first time by other United Nations (UN) countries on our human rights record.

This process is called the Universal Periodic Review or UPR. This is a new mechanism and is the first time that UN states directly examine each other on their human rights record.

We can use the UPR to highlight the gaps in human rights protection within Ireland. As part of the examination the Irish State can be held to account for its past performance. We can also use the examination to promote awareness of international human rights standards in Ireland.

A broad range of human rights will be considered: from the right to health to the right to liberty to the rights of children, older people and people from minority groups.   Structural challenges can also be included in the review. Ireland will be examined on its obligations under the:

•    Charter of the United Nations (UN)

•    Universal Declaration on Human Rights

•    Human rights agreements ratified by Ireland

•    Voluntary pledges or commitments by Ireland

•    International humanitarian law

Civil society has the opportunity to contribute to Ireland’s examination by providing evidence to the UN about the situation on the ground. 

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has drawn together a steering group of organisations to coordinate a civil society response to Ireland’s examination. You can find a list of the organisations which are represented on the group here.

The steering group will shortly be rolling out a series of

In October 2011, Ireland will be examined for the first time by other United Nations (UN) countries on our human rights record.

This process is called the Universal Periodic Review or UPR. This is a new mechanism and is the first time that UN states directly examine each other on their human rights record.

We can use the UPR to highlight the gaps in human rights protection within Ireland. As part of the examination the Irish State can be held to account for its past performance. We can also use the examination to promote awareness of international human rights standards in Ireland.

A broad range of human rights will be considered: from the right to health to the right to liberty to the rights of children, older people and people from minority groups.   Structural challenges can also be included in the review. Ireland will be examined on its obligations under the:

•    Charter of the United Nations (UN)

•    Universal Declaration on Human Rights

•    Human rights agreements ratified by Ireland

•    Voluntary pledges or commitments by Ireland

•    International humanitarian law

Civil society has the opportunity to contribute to Ireland’s examination by providing evidence to the UN about the situation on the ground. 

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has drawn together a steering group of organisations to coordinate a civil society response to Ireland’s examination. You can find a list of the organisations which are represented on the group here.

The steering group will shortly be rolling out a series of activities to raise awareness of the UPR process and facilitate input from civil society to the UPR examination.

Our website www.iccl.ie and our dedicated website www.rightmonitor.ie will be updated soon with further information on the UPR in Ireland. In the meantime, the following websites have some very useful materials on the UPR:

 Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/upr/pages/UPRMain.aspx

UPR Info

http://www.upr-info.org/

International Service for Human Rights

http://www.ishr.ch/

activities to raise awareness of the UPR process and facilitate input from civil society to the UPR examination.

Our website www.iccl.ie and our dedicated website www.rightmonitor.ie will be updated soon with further information on the UPR in Ireland. In the meantime, the following websites have some very useful materials on the UPR:

 Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/upr/pages/UPRMain.aspx

UPR Info

http://www.upr-info.org/

International Service for Human Rights

http://www.ishr.ch/