Monthly Archives: February 2015

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights  (GPs BHR) state that governments have the duty to protect human rights, companies have a responsibility to respect rights, and both governments and companies must work to provide a remedy when violations occur. This is known as the “Protect, Respect, and Remedy” framework. As a follow-up of the adoption by  the UN of the GPs BHR, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is developing a National Plan on Business and Human Rights, and seeked consultation with interested individuals and groups, both Irish and international. In the past few weeks many…

ATD with the Irish coalition “ESC Rights Initiative” is calling on the current Government and on the future candidates to 2016 General Election. Who is going to accept the one year old recommendation of the Constitutional Convention to strengthen protection of ESC rights in Ireland? Who will allow the Irish people to decide whether future governments should be obliged to make decisions that prioritise the fundamental dignity of people living within the state? On 23 February 2014, the Constitutional Convention recommended to the Irish Government, by an overwhelming majority of 85 per cent, that Economic, Social and Cultural Rights be given…

In 1995, 189 countries including Ireland came together in China for the 4th UN World Conference on Women.  The Conference adopted the United Nations Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA). This is a visionary roadmap for the achievement of women's human rights and empowerment throughout the world. Beijing+20 marks the 20th anniversary of the BPFA.  In March 2015, the UN Commission on the Status of Women will meet in New York to review progress on the BPFA and the global achievement of women’s rights and equality. Ireland will be represented there. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the…

FLAC has launched a new website ourvoiceourrights.ie as a space to inform & involve Irish civil society regarding Ireland’s upcoming examination under the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ICESCR) on 8-9 June 2015. The UN Committee on ESCR in Geneva has released a “list of issues”, questions, for the Irish Government to provide further information which must be responded to by 17 March. FLAC, ATD and many other NGOs will be keeping an eye on the Government to ensure that the responses to these questions are published sooner rather than later. Our Voice, Our Rights, the parallel report…