From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Mr. Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., today announced details of the consultation process on human rights as part of Ireland’s engagement with the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.
The consultation sessions, organised by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, are open to individuals and organisations and will take place online. There will be a limited number of places available in each online session. Registration will open today and details are available here.
In addition to the virtual consultation events, written submissions on the State Report are invited from interested parties and can be submitted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth at the following email address: UPR@equality.gov.ie
The department asks that submissions are made by 5pm on 7 May 2021.
Minister O’Gorman said:
“I am delighted to announce details for these stakeholder consultations over the coming weeks. My department and I are keen to see submissions from organisations and individuals with an interest in human rights and equality. I want to ensure that the views of a wide range of people are heard and reflected in the State report. Civil society plays a vital role in the UPR process. The engagement, cooperation and collaboration between NGOs, stakeholders and the State, along with the contributions from members of the public who make submissions on issues of importance to them, will add greatly to a comprehensive and successful review.
"The sessions will be thematic and will cover key human rights issues. This is your chance to be heard. I encourage you to register and to attend.
Minister O'Gorman concluded:
"My department is also running a separate process to ensure that children’s views are reflected in the report."
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will coordinate Ireland’s national UPR report. This National Report is essential to the UPR process and is requested through Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution 16/21.
The UPR is the only peer review mechanism at the HRC. Each of the 192 countries have the opportunity to put forward recommendations to countries under review. These cycles come about every five years. Ireland was last reviewed in May 2016 and updates for our third National Report are now required.
The focus of the National Report is to provide updates on progress made in respect of recommendations from previous cycles and to provide updates on developments, changes, new and emerging issues. Consultation with civil society is an importance part of the process.
Consultation will take place in two ways.
The closing date for written submissions will be 7 May 2021.
The 2016 UPR Report can be found here.
The UPR Interim Report, published in July 2020, can be found here.