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With 27 other national networks and organisations, ATD Ireland is member of the  Community Platform to work to address poverty, social exclusion, and inequality. Our objectives are to facilitate solidarity amongst the organisations involved, organise community sector participation in partnership arrangements with the State, and establish a critical voice for equality, rights and anti-poverty interests at a national level. The paper "The Future Perspective of the Community Platform", launched on 14th July 2015, sets out some key elements of the situation in Ireland after six years of austerity policies and proposes policy directions for a future Ireland that would better reflect…

CAMPAIGNERS TAKE TO STREETS AROUND THE GLOBE AHEAD OF FINANCE SUMMIT On Saturday 11 July, in more than 70 cities around the world, tens-of-thousands of campaigners backed by leaders such as Desmond Tutu or Malala Yousafzai are taking to the streets to call for governments to fairly fund essential services, honour their aid commitments and crack down on tax dodging. In Ireland, All Together in Dignity with action/2015 invites citizens to support the Global Day of Action on the social networks using the hashtags #FfD3 #FinanceOurFuture #RecommitToAid #Action2015 #EndPoverty and #LeaveNoOneBehind. ATD joins the “Act Now on 2015” campaign giving to…

The Irish Government & the UCD Centre for Humanitarian Action will convene the Irish Humanitarian Summit on July 2nd 2015. This Summit, the first of its kind in Ireland, will be addressed by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Charlie Flanagan and Minister of State Séan Sherlock will also address the event which is an opportunity for the Irish humanitarian community to affirm a new Humanitarian Agenda for Ireland. This Irish Summit is part of a consultation process in order to prepare the World Humanitarian Summit. This process was initiated by the UN Secretary General to…

The 17th of June marked a symbolic countdown towards the United Nations Summit on the Post 2015 Agenda and the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals: only 100 days are left until Member State delegates, UN staff and representatives of civil society and major groups will meet in New York end of September, at possibly the most important UN Summit in history, to discuss and agree on issues concerning sustainable development, poverty eradication, balancing inequalities and climate change. After a couple of years’ worth of consultations and even more discussions and debates, the much anticipated Zero Draft of the outcome…

The Irish Government has been examined by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights onJune 8th and 9th 2015. The UN Committee comprises a group of 18 independent international experts, who will examine the Irish State's progress in protecting, respecting and promoting the rights contained in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. At the occasion of this monentum many NGOs (see the FLAC report) and the IHREC reported about the situation in Ireland. Read also the #UnIrl Updates on humanrights.ie and in media. At the examination, Irish State representant said that the Constitutional Convention recommendation…

In 2015, our steps made again a difference in Ireland and abroad! Almost €2,000 were collected at the Women's Mini-Marathon. €600 will fund our work in Ireland and €1,400 will be sent to the ATD team in the Central African Republic (CAR). Thank you to all the sponsors who supported participants! And spread the word! ATD Ireland needs to find friends in Ireland ready to support us financially. In 2015, we still need to find €15,000 in the country! Visit our Donate page!

Women’s Mini Marathon – Dublin Monday 1 June 2015 at 2 pm – 10 km In 2015, our steps will again make a difference in Ireland and abroad! For every €10 collected, €3 will fund our work in Ireland and €7 will be sent to the ATD team in the Central African Republic (CAR). To donate, follow the link! Since March 2013, violence has to torn the country apart. In Bangui, the capital, people have fled their homes and taken up refuge at the airport where foreign soldiers and humanitarian aid are located.  The ATD team is working to run Street…

ATD International underlines the need to tailor climate change response measures to the needs of the most vulnerable. If governments fail to combat climate change with people living in poverty, it is very likely that response measures will work against these vulnerable communities. “People who are socially, economically, culturally, politically, institutionally, or otherwise marginalized are especially vulnerable to climate change and also to some adaptation and mitigation.” The international community therefore has an obligation to ensure that climate agreements and adaptation and mitigation actions include poverty eradication as a primary objective, acknowledging that they have direct bearing on the post-2015 agenda…

On 27th May,  the remains of Geneviève De Gaulle Anthonioz, the niece of General de Gaulle, will be placed in the Pantheon in Paris with three other people for their role as leading members in the French resistance Movement during the Second World War. The Pantheon is dedicated to famous and important French citizens, whose lives are recognised for their exceptional action . From 25th May to 1st June 2015, ATD Ireland and some of its partners organises a week of events highlighting the life and commitments of Geneviève De Gaulle Anthonioz. This special week will be dedicated to making her…

With the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland, ATD welcomes the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions which says that “…the Direct Provision System is not fit for purpose and (they) recommend that it should be replaced with a reception system that respects the dignity of all persons in line with best international human rights practice.” Ireland is one of the EU member states not allowing people to work while waiting for the state to decide on their asylum claims. To maintain this ban, Ireland has had to opt out of the EU Directive “laying down…