Report On Ireland's Human Rights Record Published

The publication of the Government’s National Report on Ireland’s domestic human rights record as part of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process has been announced.

The report was prepared with the assistance of an interdepartmental working group chaired by the Department of Justice and Equality. The publication follows submission of the report to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, based in Geneva. The report was compiled after a public consultation process undertaken in order to give the widest possible range of organisations and members of the public the opportunity to make submissions on issues of importance in the area of human rights in Ireland.

As part of this consultation, seven public meetings were held around the country and 120 submissions were received. All submissions received and issues raised at the public meetings were considered and informed the preparation of the report.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is one of the major innovations of the UN Human Rights Council (established in 2006), whereby the domestic human rights records of all 192 UN Member States are reviewed every four years. 48 countries are reviewed each year, starting in 2008, with 16 reviews taking place in each of the thrice-yearly UPR Working Group sessions. This is the first occasion for Ireland to submit a report as part of this process.

The formal review of Ireland’s report will be undertaken by the UN Human Rights Council on 6 October 2011.

(BMcN/KMcA)