MEDIA ADVISORY
For event taking place from 9.30am, Friday 14 November 2014 at the Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Street, Dublin 1
International speakers attending, including Mr Susheel Gupta, Vice-Chair of Canadian Human Rights Tribunal & spokesperson for Air India Victims’ Families Association.
Mr Gupta’s mother died in the Air India bombing, which claimed the lives of over 300 people off the Cork Coast in 1985.
WHAT
– A conference organised by the Victims’ Rights Alliance (VRA) and JUSTICIA, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)-led European Rights Network.
– Conference opens with launch of new Victims’ Rights Alliance Report by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald TD, followed by expert discussion of victims’ rights policy in Ireland and at EU level.
WHEN
– 9am – 5pm, Friday 14 November 2014, at the Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Street, Dublin 1
– Minister Frances Fitzgerald will open the conference and launch the VRA’s new report at 9.30am
WHO
– Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, opening the conference at 9.30am
– Mr Susheel Gupta, Vice-Chair of Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, and spokesperson for Air India Victims’ Families Association.
– Garda Commissioner Noreen O’Sullivan
– Maria McDonald, Coordinator of the VRA
– Mark Kelly, Director of the ICCL and Consortium Leader of the JUSTICA European Rights Network
– Greg Heylin, Victims of Crime Office, Department of Justice
– Senior representatives of many victims’ rights representatives, including:
• Joan Deane, AdVIC
• Maeve Lewis, One in Four
• Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
• (see full lineup below)
Mr Susheel Gupta is available for interview with the media to discuss his work in the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, and his advocacy with the Air India Victims’ Families Association.
Broadcast media are also invited to attend the conference, where pre-recorded pieces with conference attendees will be facilitated.
For press attendance, and to request advance interviews with the conference speakers, please contact:
Walter Jayawardene
Communications Manager
Irish Council for Civil Liberties
9-13 Blackhall Place
Dublin 7, Ireland
Tel. + 353 1 799 4503
Mob: +353 87 9981574
E-mail walter.jayawardene@iccl.ie
www.iccl.ie; www.eujusticia.net
Notes to editor
– Photos from the morning session, including Minister Fitzgerald opening remarks and launch of the VRA Report, will be filed by Gareth Chaney of Collins photo to all newsdesks. Press photographers are welcome to attend the later conference sessions to take photographs of the proceedings.
– The conference will explore “Implementing and Enforcing the Victims’ Rights Directive” from multiple expert perspectives. Topics covered will include:
• The need for better victim support services
• The voice of the victim, including vulnerable victims, in proceedings
• Complaint procedures for crime victims
• Enforcing the EU Directive on Victims of Crime
– Conference proceedings will be live tweeted, using the #VRACONF hashtag.
The Victims’ Rights Alliance (VRA) is an Alliance of victims support and human rights organisations in Ireland. The VRA’s latest report, launching at Friday’s conference, examines the legal and administrative infrastructure in place to facilitate the provision of information, support and protection to all victims of crime as provided for by the EU Victims’ Rights Directive.
JUSTICIA, the ICCL-led European Rights Network is a trans-European network based in 19 EU Member States working on EU criminal justice policy, with a focus on the rights of victims of crime, and procedural rights.
LIST OF SPEAKERS
Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, opening the conference at 9.30am Garda Commissioner Noreen O’Sullivan Mr Susheel Gupta, Vice-Chair of Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, and spokesperson for Air India Victims’ Families Association Maria McDonald BL (VRA) Mark Kelly [Director ICCL and Coordinator of JUSTICIA] Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, DRCC – Chair Jessica Hill, UK Department of Justice – Speaking on the Track-my-crime website – for Police Service John Hayward-Cripps, Locality Director (South) Victim Support /Witness Service [UK] Marie Brown, Director, Northern Ireland Derry Family Justice Centre and Foyle Women’s Aid Dr. Andrea Ryan, University of Limerick – Chair Susheel Gupta, Vice-Chairperson of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Maria Giovanna Manieri, Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) Joan Deane, AdVIC Hilkka Becker – Immigrant Council of Ireland Maria McDonald BL – Chair Greg HeylIn, Victims of Crime Office, Department of Justice Katarzyna Janicka-Pawlowska, Legal officer, European Commission, DG Justice, Procedural Criminal Law Dr. Helgard van Hüllen, Vice President of Victim Support Europe Maeve Lewis, One in Four – Chair Sue O’Sullivan, Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Canada.