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ATD Ireland with all other members of the European Alliance of Investing in Children, welcomes the publication of  a new handbook on the Implementation of the Investing in Children EU Recommendation . The 2013 European Commission Recommendation “Investing in Children: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage” presented a comprehensive policy approach to child poverty and well-being. The new Implementation Handbook by Eurochild and its partners in the Alliance of Investing in Children, shows how Member States can translate the policy guidelines into action.  It is a key asset for legislators, policy makers and decision makers, as well as a resource tool to…

A landmark collective complaint against Ireland, which outlines appalling and widespread sub-standard housing issues across 20 Local Authority housing estates, has been deemed admissible for further investigation at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg  (Decision by the European Committee of Social Rights adopted on Tuesday 17 March 2015). Tenants of Local Authority housing estates were assisted in compiling the collective complaint by Community Action Network (CAN), The Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at National University Ireland Galway, Ballymun Community Law Centre, Dr. Rory Hearne of the Geography Department at National University Ireland Maynooth and the Irish Traveller Movement (ITM).…

In March 2015 ATD launched the project “Let's put Human Rights in our Manifestos”. From March 2015 to June 2015, ATD volunteers and community groups from the North Inner City will look at what Economic, Social and Cultural Rights mean today and will discuss the request of Irish Constitutional Convention to strengthen the protection of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Irish Constitution. The Housing crisis, the Right 2 Water demonstrations, the Constitutional Convention recommendation from 23rd February 2014 to include Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Irish Constitution are converging issues. They tell us it is the right time…

As people across the globe celebrate International Women's Day (8 March), United Nations member states are in discussions that could prove to be the most important negotiations for women in history, according to the global citizens' movement action/2015. Two unique political processes - one that will lead to the adoption later this year of the Sustainable Development Goals and another that is expected to endorse the first climate treaty in a generation - offer an unprecedented opportunity to dramatically transform the lives of women and girls and fulfill their human rights. The UN Summit for the adoption of the Post-2015 development…

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…

“The choices that will be made at the end of the year in relation to both agendas will have a real impact on this and future generations. Our decision-makers are presented with a unique opportunity to address the most urgent and fundamental needs of millions of people around the world, people who have the right, and seek the means, the freedom, to live their lives in dignity. And it is a task for all of us – elected representatives, NGO workers, students, activists and, simply, concerned citizens – to use whatever means we have at our disposal to ensure that the…

2015 has been designated the European Year for Development (EYD), a year in which we are encouraged to look at what Europe has already contributed to international development and what we can each do to strengthen our contribution to a more just and equal world. It is also the year in which the global community will agree on a new framework for sustainable development and a new set of goals to succeed the Millennium Development Goals. As the largest donor in the world, the EU has a critical role to play in this process and the contribution of MEPs and citizens…