Press release
Minister O’Gorman leads the Irish delegation at the State’s Universal Periodic Review
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., today led a delegation at Ireland’s United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, which took place virtually. The delegation comprised senior officials from a wide range of government departments with human rights remits.
Ireland’s UPR review was based on the State Report, which was submitted in August 2021. It was further underpinned by an online consultation process that took place in May 2021, feedback and shadow reports provided by relevant stakeholders, and information contained in the reports of treaty bodies.
During the Review, Minister O’Gorman outlined Ireland’s achievements in the domestic human rights sphere since Ireland’s previous review in 2016. These include the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Istanbul Convention on Violence against Women, the recognition of Traveller ethnicity, the development of the third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, policing reform, the establishment of an independent anti-racism committee, publication of the white paper to end Direct Provision and to establish a new International Protection Support Service, and the launch of a suite of equality strategies that are aimed at making Ireland a fairer place in which to live.
The Minister acknowledged the active involvement of civil society throughout the UPR process, and its critical role in the further advancement of human rights.
The Minister said:
“The UPR is a critically important process for Ireland because it provides a unique opportunity to be peer-reviewed by other states on our human rights record. I am proud of the work we are doing to progress and promote human rights on a domestic and global level. At the same time, there are always new issues emerging, and challenges we need to face.”
The Minister added:
“I want to commend the non-governmental sector who contributed so constructively to the consultation process. The Irish Government looks forward to working with civil society in addressing the recommendations we have received today.”
Ireland’s review included spoken interventions from 105 states who provided a wide range of recommendations on human rights for Ireland to consider.
ENDS
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the only peer review mechanism at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC). The UPR mechanism was initiated in 2008 and aims to review the domestic human rights of all UN member states every four and a half years. Ireland’s first National Report was submitted in July 2011, and the formal review took place in Geneva in October 2011. Ireland’s second National Report was submitted in February 2016, and the formal review took place in Geneva in May 2016.
The UPR is conducted by the UPR Working Group, which consists of the 47 members of the HRC. Each of the 192 countries in the UN has the opportunity to put forward recommendations to countries under review. The Troika comprises three members of the HRC who act as rapporteurs and assist with the review of each State. Ireland’s UPR39 Troika comprises Sudan, Germany and Ukraine.
Ireland’s delegation at the UPR Review was led by Minister Roderic O’Gorman TD and consisted of senior officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Department of Health, Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications, Department of Education, Department of Justice, Department of Social Protection, Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth coordinated both Ireland’s review, and the national UPR report, which is requested through Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution 16/21. Ireland’s third national report was submitted to the HRC in August 2021,
Further details on Ireland’s engagement with the UPR process can be found here.