One of Australia’s top judges will spotlight the crucial human rights monitoring role of the United Nations at an event timed to coincide with Ireland’s appearance before the United Nations Human Rights Committee tomorrow (14 July 2008).
Justice Michael Kirby of the Australian High Court will speak at the Westbury Hotel, Dublin on Monday 14 July 2008 at 10:30am. He will launch a new Shadow Report on Ireland’s compliance with UN human rights standards, published by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres), and the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT).
The Shadow Report highlights significant gaps in Ireland’s human rights performance, including as regards collusion in extraordinary rendition, the failure to provide for full equality for all families, poor conditions of detention in prisons, the persistence of imprisonment for debt, and the absence of universal child benefit.
The Shadow Report’s key findings will also be presented directly to members of the UN Human Rights Committee by a delegation of Irish non-governmental organisations in Geneva tomorrow.