Press release
Tánaiste congratulates Mary Lawlor on appointment as UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D., today congratulated Mary Lawlor on her appointment as UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.
“Mary has been a tireless advocate for human rights for over 40 years both in Ireland and overseas. This appointment is deserving recognition of her work and that of the organisation she founded - Front Line Defenders - supporting human rights defenders at risk around the world.
“Ireland has long championed civil society and human rights defenders who are critical to the protection and promotion of the human rights of others and I look forward to working with Mary in her new role.”
ENDS
The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council are a central element of the United Nations human rights system. The office holders, who may be known as Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives, Working Groups, or Independent Experts, are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. They are appointed by the Human Rights Council and act in a voluntary capacity with support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Ms Lawlor’s appointment is for a three-year term.