Media advisory: On Eve of March for Choice, UN Spotlight Again Falls on Ireland’s Human Rights Record
WHAT
Irish civil society groups, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) will this Friday address the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva regarding remaining shortcomings in Ireland’s human rights record, especially in relation to the rights of women. The hearing comes on the eve of what is expected to be the biggest ever March for Choice here in Dublin.
The Irish Ambassador to the UN, Patricia O’Brien will respond to the oral statements and to the recommendations made about Ireland’s human rights record by other UN member States during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
The first stage of this high profile political review took place in May during which UN countries made recommendations to Ireland about specific human rights issues in Ireland. Ireland accepted most of the recommendations but took the last 4 months to consider some 95 recommendations. On Friday, the Government will respond to those criticisms and recommendations when it informs the UN Human Rights Council which of the final recommendations it accepts or rejects. 18 recommendations relate to the right of access to abortion in Ireland. Ireland’s abortion laws were a big issue during the session in May.
WHO
* Ambassador Patricia O’Brien, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations.
* Pia Janning of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties will make a short statement to the Human Rights Council on behalf of Your Rights, Rights Now, the UPR civil society coalition led by the ICCL.
* Allison Spillane, Irish Family Planning Association, member of the Your Rights. Right Now Coalition will also address the Council.
WHERE and WHEN
* Morning Session, Friday 23 July 2016
* Available to watch live from 11am (approx.) http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/33rd-regular-session-of-human-rights-council/4473498400001
NOTES
The full list of the 262 recommendations made to Ireland is available from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights here https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G16/157/18/PDF/G1615718.pdf?OpenElement.
The Government’s response to the outstanding 95/97 recommendations is available in full under A/HRC/33/17/Add.1 here (ref: A/HRC/33/17/Add.1) http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session33/Pages/ListReports.aspx