People are invited to participate in one of two free public information sessions on human rights in Ireland taking place at the Galway People’s Resource Centre, St Claire’s Walk, Merchants Road. Both sessions take place today (Thursday ) - the first from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, the other from 6.30pm to 8pm.
Ireland’s human rights record is being reviewed by the United Nations for the first time this year under a new process called the Universal Periodic Review (UPR ). In the lead-up to the UPR, 17 leading organisations have joined forces - under the “Your Rights. Right Now” campaign to help people make the State accountable for its human rights record.
The public information event aims to give individuals and organisations a chance to contribute to the UPR. Organisers will explain the UPR process and encourage people to share their experiences and opinions on human rights in Ireland.
In March, “Your Rights. Right Now” will submit a report to the United Nations summarising the issues raised at meetings throughout the country. This report will feed into the UPR process. Later in the year, the United Nations will conduct its official review of Ireland’s rights record and will then issue recommendations on what can be done to make sure all human rights in Ireland are protected and respected.
Mark Kelly, the director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties - one of the groups involved in the campaign - says the information sessions will give people an opportunity to make sure Ireland delivers on its human rights commitments.
“Right now, many people are seeing very clearly how politics and economics can impact directly on their lives and those of their families. People care about their rights, right now. National and international laws promise to protect the rights of everyone in Ireland but, all too often, those pledges have been broken. The Universal Periodic Review offers a fresh chance to ask people directly about whether their rights are being respected; to bring this information to the UN; and to seek commitments from the new Government on how they will deliver on Ireland’s human rights promises.”
For further information contact Deirdre Duffy at (086 ) 8479354 or e-mail [email protected]
