Protest Under Fire: How Dissent is Silenced
For the third year running, ICCL is hosting a panel at the Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival. This year, we’re focusing on protest rights.
Where? Science Gallery Dublin, Pearse St.
When? Saturday 28th September 4:30pm
To register click here
The right to protest is one of the most important human rights issues globally. Threats to the right to protest manifest themselves in different ways throughout different regions, some protesters face military backlash, others face greater electronic surveillance, and some face a shrinking civil space for opposition and dissent more generally. This panel gathers three human rights defenders from Ireland and abroad to discuss the current trends in protest, the threats to the right to protest which they face, and how civil society can work to protect this vital human right.
Speakers:
Cormac McAleer, Chairman (outgoing) of Save Our Sperrins (SOS), Co. Tyrone.
Save Our Sperrins is an environmental interest group based in the heart of the Sperrins in County Tyrone. They advocate for environmentally responsible planning in the public interest. In recent months Cormac and others have been subject to threats and intimidation in connection with protesting the activities of a Canadian goldmining project in the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Svetlana Glushkova, Reporter, Kazakhstan.
Svetlana Glushkova is a correspondent with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Kazakh Service and Current Time. She covers a wide range of human rights related issues and has been arrested numerous times and beaten by police officers during the course of her work.
Edward Horgan, peace activist, Co. Limerick.
Dr. Edward Horgan, a retired UN peacekeeper, took a constitutional case against the Irish Government over US military use of Shannon airport. He is the chairperson of Veterans for Peace Ireland, International Secretary of the Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance, and a peace activist with Shannonwatch. Protests at Shannon are frequently targetted by An Garda Síochána, and members have reported harassment, arrests without a legal basis, and lack of follow-up on complaints. Dr. Horgan tried but failed to arrest G. W. Bush at Shannon airport (mea cupla) and has himself been arrested on a number of occasions.
The panel will be chaired by Doireann Ansbro, ICCL’s Senior Research and Policy Officer.
For more information on the festival, see http://smashingtimes.ie/centrefortheartsandhumanrights/dublinartsandhumanrightsfestival/
Preliminary report: ICCL National Consultation with Protesters
26 June 2019
ICCL travelled to Cork, Ennis and Dublin between 19 and 22 June to meet with environmental activists, anti-war protesters, anti-eviction groups, and activists living in Direct Provision. We had individual meetings with some groups and we also met with representatives of An Garda Síochána and relevant oversight bodies.
It is clear to ICCL that there is a wide gap between the stated position of the Garda with regard to protecting the rights to protest, and the experiences of many of the groups involved in organising a wide range of demonstrations and protests. The lack of clear and transparent information about police policy and training, and the lack of public data about the use of legal powers and the use of force present serious weaknesses in the Irish approach to managing protests.
The salient point for us has been that, while the government and An Garda Síochána are supportive of large protests taking place on the main thoroughfares of Ireland, when it comes to protesters living on the margins of society or protesting outside of the media spotlight, the garda and state response can be much more heavy-handed.
Read the full report and our recommendations here
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ICCL highlights urgent concerns for the right to protest following national consultation
26 June 2019
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), having engaged last week in a national consultation with protest groups, is today reporting serious and urgent concerns in how the Irish state deals with protest and dissent.
We have been informed that activists living in Direct Provision deal with retribution up to and including the with-holding of food and benefits for holding protests, and that housing activists arrested at evictions have been subjected to degrading treatment such as strip-searching.
ICCL travelled to Cork, Ennis and Dublin between 19 and 22 June to meet with environmental activists, anti-war protesters, anti-eviction groups, and activists living in Direct Provision. We also met with representatives of An Garda Síochána and relevant oversight bodies.
Director of ICCL, Liam Herrick, said:
“The salient point for us has been that, while the government and An Garda Síochána are supportive of large protests taking place on the main thoroughfares of Ireland, when it comes to protesters living on the margins of society or protesting outside of the media spotlight, the garda and state response can be much more heavy-handed”.
It is clear to ICCL that there is a wide gap between the stated position of the Garda with regard to protecting the rights to protest, and the experiences of many of the groups involved in organising a wide range of demonstrations and protests.
The lack of clear and transparent information about police policy and training, and the lack of public data about the use of legal powers and the use of force present serious weaknesses in the Irish approach to managing protests.
We received reports of garda misuse of the Public Order Act (through arresting protesters and later dropping charges), of garda intimidation of protesters (through photography, following cars, harassment, and stop-and-search), of serious deficiencies in GSOC handling of complaints, and of gardaí imposing limits on where people can protest without a clear basis in law.
International standards state that sit-ins and meetings are protected by the right to protest and may extend to private spaces accessible to the public. However, we heard a number of serious specific issues around protests at or near privately owned land – including during evictions and at Direct Provision centres.
We received reports that gardaí themeslves are evicting protesters from squats when media are not present. Protesters have also been arrested from public spaces such as city councils. We received reports that gardaí have subjected those arrested at protests to treatment that interferes with their right to dignity, including psychological trauma, strip-searching and being forced to squat and cough. Arrested protesters have allegedly been encouraged to give statements without lawyers present, and in some cases even denied access to their lawyers.
We are extremely concerned that the rights to assembly, to free expression and to free association are being curtailed by private operators of Direct Provision centres, allegedly with the support of An Garda Síochána. Residents informed us that their meetings have been labelled “illegal”, that people have been escorted in handcuffs to public spaces where they are “allowed” to protest, and that food and benefits have been withheld in response to protests.
ENDS/
Full report and Press Conference:
During the consultation, ICCL travelled with an international expert on the right to protest, Michael Power. Michael will present his report at a press conference in Buswell’s Hotel at 11am on Wednesday 26 June.
The Policing Authority will meet the Garda Commissioner at 2:30pm on 26 June to present their latest report on public order policing.
Notes for editors:
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is Ireland’s leading independent human rights body. We monitor, educate and campaign to secure all human rights for everyone.
Michael Power is a public interest lawyer, based in South Africa, and a consultant to the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO) in its Protest Rights and Policing thematic area. Michael has advised and represented civil society organisations, social movements and activists in various courts and commissions of inquiry in defence of the right to protest, and he has appeared before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Committee to assist in setting international standards on the right to freedom of association and assembly. More information about Michael can be found here.
For media queries:
Sinéad Nolan: sinead.nolan@iccl.ie 087 4157162
ICCL National Consultation with Protesters
ICCL travelled to Cork, Ennis and Dublin between 19 and 22 June to meet with environmental activists, anti-war protesters, anti-eviction groups, and activists living in Direct Provision. We also met with representatives of An Garda Síochána and relevant oversight bodies.
Here’s a video report of the Dublin leg of our conference:
Click here to read more
We cannot do this without you. Please consider joining ICCL.
ICCL publishes 2018 Annual Report
Dublin, 16 May 2019
Read our full annual report by following this link.
Referendum Campaigns
ICCL had a busy year in 2018, not least because of our campaigns in two seminal referendums – the referendum to repeal the 8th, and the referendum to remove blasphemy from the Constitution. You can read about these campaigns on p15 and p21.
In order to comply with referendum rules, we used our membership fees to fund both. We quite literally could not have done it without our members and we are very grateful indeed for their continued support. You can join ICCL here: iccl.ie/join
International Women’s Day 2018
Outside of the referendums, we ran a number of other important campaigns.
Garda Reform
We made significant progress in our 40+-year quest for garda reform with the publication of the Kilpatrick report. The Commission on the Future of Policing echoed many of the recommendations in our report, and we continue to closely monitor implementation of same in 2019. Read more on p12.
Transitional Justice
ICCL made a significant contribution to the struggle for justice for survivors of institutional abuse. We called for a full exhumation at Tuam, as well as the immediate ratification of the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearances. We also made a submission to the Department of Health on their proposed deprivation of liberty legislation. Read more on p14.
Defending Activism
We were proud to be able to support both protesters and artists as they clamoured for human rights and were met with a heavy-handed state response. Our campaign to protect activism and civil society has become a cornerstone of our policy in 2019. Read more on p19.
ICCL commissioned Garreth Joyce to paint a mural for REPEAL (above) in solidarity with Project Arts Centre when the Charities Regulator order they take down Maser’s iconic Repeal mural.
Your Privacy Rights
Ireland is now a global technology hub and with advances on that front come serious threats to our rights. Read all about our programme of work on privacy and surveillance from p22.
Want to support this vital work and more? iccl.ie/donate
Senator Lynn Ruane launches bill for reform of Electoral Act with backing of campaign groups
Dublin, 16 May 2019
Senator Lynn Ruane today launched her bill for reform of the Electoral Act with support from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Education Equality and Amnesty International.
Senator Ruane said:
“I’m delighted to introduce this reform to support the voices of community and advocacy groups. Ordinary citizens organising together to agitate for progressive change have transformed Ireland in recent years. However, a change to the Electoral Acts made in 2001 has led to a chilling effect on the valid advocacy work of these same groups.”
The bill has been co-sponsored by Independent Senators Lynn Ruane, Alice-Mary Higgins, Colette Kelleher, John Dolan, Frances Black, David Norris, Victor Boyhan, Labour Party Senator Ivana Bacik, Green Party Senator Grace O’Sullivan and Sinn Féin Senator Fintan Warfield.
April Duff, chairperson of Education Equality, said:
“Education Equality was accused of breaching the Electoral Act over €10,000 seed funding from an Irish donor. We never imagined the Act, designed to regulate election spending, would apply to a group like ours which campaigned for an end to the baptism barrier. SIPOC threatened us with prosecution and eventually we returned most the funding, dissolved the association and transferred to a company limited by guarantee. Now we can’t accept donations of over €100.”
Liam Herrick, executive director of ICCL, said:
“Activism is one of the cornerstones of a democracy. When people can make their voices heard, they can bring about real change in our society. However, this law is undermining that fundamental right – something that has been recognised by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. We urgently need this reform in order to keep our civil society vibrant and effective.”
Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, said:
“The Electoral Act is completely at odds with Ireland’s foreign policy. Ireland leads on UN initiatives to defend the space for civil society globally and been a vocal critic of repression in countries like Russia, Hungary and Egypt. Even though the Act was not intended to undermine civil society, its broad wording has clearly been used to silence NGOs working on a range of equality and rights issues. This undermines Ireland’s standing when holding other repressive governments to account.”
ICCL and Amnesty International Ireland have been leading the Coalition for Civil Society Freedom’s call for reform of the Electoral Act for over two years. The Coalition, which also includes The Wheel, Front Line Defenders, Transparency International Ireland and Uplift, has the support of over 60 civil society organisations. Over 1200 people have signed an open letter to the Taoiseach calling for this reform.
ENDS/
Notes for editors:
Coalition for Civil Society Freedom statement on Electoral Act: https://www.iccl.ie/coalition-csf-statement-electoral-act/
List of CSOs in support of reform: https://www.iccl.ie/csos-for-electoral-act-reform/
Open letter to Taoiseach: https://action.uplift.ie/campaigns/284
For media queries:
Sinéad Nolan: sinead.nolan@iccl.ie 087 4157162
Human rights and arts organisations call for repeal of Censorship Act
Dublin, 29 April 2019
On 30 April, as part of Dublin UNESCO’s One City One Book, a coalition of human rights and arts organisations will come together to call for the immediate repeal of the Censorship of Publications Act.
One year after the forced removal of Maser’s repeal the 8th mural at Project Arts Centre a number of speakers – including writer Una Mullally, Cian O’Brien, artistic director of Project, and Beth Hayden of Glitter HOLE – will address their experiences of censorship and self-censorship.
In 2018, the ordered removal of Maser’s Repeal the 8th mural and the cancellation of Mullally’s The Question of the Eighth brought censorship of the arts to the fore yet again. In April of this year DIY drag collective Glitter HOLE announced that they had been forced to cancel their age-appropriate Drag Storytime event at the Lexicon Library due to ‘archaic homophobia’ and violent threats against them. In presenting the reason for cancelation as “an age-appropriate review”, DLR did little to protect and promote free speech as is their duty as a state body.
Sign the petition to Repeal the Censorship Act
In 1929 the Irish Free State Government passed the Censorship of Publications Act, which created the Censorship of Publications Board. In 2019, this Board still has the authority to prohibit any book or periodical that they find to be obscene. Ireland has seen ground-breaking referendums on marriage equality, abortion, and blasphemy. Now our coalition is calling for the repeal of the Censorship of Publications Act, in the name of personal freedom and mutual respect.
Mullally, Glitter HOLE and O’Brien will be joined for debate on the day by Lian Bell, campaign director of Waking the Feminists, historian Donal Fallon, broadcaster Evelyn O’Rourke, arts campaigner Angela Dorgan, NCAD professor Declan Long, and poet and barrister John O’Donnell. The event will take place over two panels with an intermission discussion featuring exiled Turkish theatre group Be Aware. There will be built-in space for audience input to the discussions.
The Best Banned in the Land event is part of the Dublin: One City One Book festival. It is the result of collaboration between the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Irish Writers Centre, Poetry Ireland, the Writers’ Guild and Project Arts Centre. It is kindly sponsored by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature.
ENDS/
See more of ICCL’s work for freedom of expression
For media queries and press invites:
Sinéad Nolan: 087 4157162
Eimear O’Reilly: eimear@projectartscentre.ie
ICCL submission to the public consultation on establishing an Electoral Commission
15 March 2019
ICCL has made a submission to the Department of Housing and Local Government’s public consultation on the establishment of an Electoral Commission.
ICCL supports the establishment of an Electoral Commission because we believe it can strengthen the cohesiveness and transparency of electoral regulation. We call for this body to be entirely independent of government, and that this should be guaranteed through primary legislation and direct funding from the exchequer.
We also believe the establishment of an Electoral Commission would present an important opportunity to amend problematic legislation on international funding for civil society.
Read more here: 190315 ICCL Submission DHPLG Consult on Electoral Commision
ICCL publishes latest edition of Rights News!
Cartoonist Harry Burton responds to victory in the blasphemy referendum
From victory for free speech in the blasphemy referendum, to the Guard Our Rights campaign for police reform, mass protests and mass surveillance, it’s been another busy semester for ICCL!
Read all about it in Rights News for Autumn Winter 2018/9: Rights News AW18-9
