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THE GOVERNMENT WILL be examined on its human rights record by the UN today, as campaigners call on ministers to address “serious gaps” in the protection of vulnerable groups.
The Irish Human Rights Commission has said improvements are necessary in Ireland’s legislation on the rights of Travellers, migrants, asylum seekers, women, children, people with disabilities, people in poverty and prisoners. It has called on the government to make commitments in 15 specific areas, but none of these have been forthcoming.
Ireland’s record on cooperation with international human rights mechanisms and upholding equality will be under the microscope today as the government faces its first examination under the UN’s Universal Periodic Review system – a mechanism to examine the human rights records of 192 countries every four years, set up in 2006.
The Irish Human Rights Commission will also sit in on the meetings. Its president Dr Maurice Manning said: “this is a key opportunity for the Government to make positive human rights changes in Ireland. There have been serious gaps in the State’s efforts to date to meet its human rights obligations.”
He continued: “Drastic cuts in resources over the last 3 years to human rights and equality bodies have hampered our efforts to safeguard human rights and to hold the State to account,” adding that it is “vital that this chance is grasped” to fill the gaps and safeguard the vulnerable in society.
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The separation of church and state should also be mentioned. A child’s right to an education without superstition in a state funded school is a basic human right that is denied to all that are attending schools under catholic patronage.
I think you and others who refer to the Catholic faith as superstition are unfair to those whose belief system this is. What ever happened to pluralism? Those critics want pluralism except for Catholics. I cant wait for the day the state provides secular education for all those in the country who hate the Catholic church so much and let the Catholics have the kind of education they would wish for their children – without having to constantly listen to insults. Guess what, they will find some other gripe then- maybe they will be ‘offended’ by having to pass by a catholic school or find some other shitty problem with that.
Religion has nothing to do with Education, in fact religion is in direct conflict with scientific fact in many cases. I have nothing against people practicing their religion and it is their right to do so. Pluralism and inclusion means the total separation of Church and state. No church or faith based organization should have “special status” in the state all should have equal rights and responsibilities.
I refer to all religions as superstitions because that is exactly what they are, unless somebody can provide some kind of evidence that a God exists. Despite the advances in science and technology we have found nothing to support the claim of a god or gods yet people still cling to the rantings of iron age teachings and mythology.
Sheelagh – If children want to learn about Catholicism, they can go to church. It shouldn’t cost the state any money whatsoever to peddle a 2,000 year old fairy-tale that has absolutely no evidence for it’s validity. Remove religious studies and replace it with evolutionary biology.
Well said Joe, bang on! Every child has the right to an education free of religion, the sectarian nature of the Irish education system is a disgrace in the 21st century. Those who want a catholic ‘education’ should go to their churches or set up sunday schools for their children where they can teach them whatever fantasy they wish. State education should concentrate on education not indoctrination. The time spent in school should be utilised to teach real subjects like maths, literacy, science, languages and IT. Maths in particular is a real problem with Irish children. Education is the right of all children regardless of whatever sect their parents belong to, or not. It is the job of the state to ensure that the children get that education and that they get it without the influence or interference of any religious group or organisation.
No School should teach religion. If you want your child to learn a particular religion then let them go to classes outside of school for that. the amount of time teachers have to spend on preparation for Communions and confirmations is a joke. That’s time that could be spent learning a proper subject. I’d imagine the church are afraid of loosing their grip. They know if religion is removed from schools then the numbers of children doing communions ect will drop.
I hope they will also be reviewing the rights of Irish hardworking taxpayers who are losing their homes, falling behind on debts, unable to pay fines and ending up imprisoned etc.. ie. I hope they look at the human rights of the people who are paying through the teeth to fix the mistakes of criminals still wandering the streets..
They need to start with Teresa Tracey!!
A few words from Colm O’Gorman of Amnesty International Ireland might enlighten these meetings too.
I hope that they will look at the rights of people who are for one reason or another being prosecuted, charged or accused by our police force are looked into. The outcome of the investigation into police corruption in Donegal and Waterford was frightening. There is no reason to believe that elements of our police are not involved in basic infringments of our human rights throughout the country. There would seem to be a reluctance on behalf of our investigative journalists to look into and report on such matters.
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