Press release
Minister O’Gorman launches the “What WE Think” suite of reports
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
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, today launched the “What WE Think” suite of reports of the consultation process with Children and Young People at a virtual event.
The “What WE Think” suite of reports informs Ireland’s reports on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities and the Universal Periodic Review.
The “What WE Think” suite of reports comprises:
Minister O’Gorman is also publishing the following reports on the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth website today:
Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:
“I am delighted to launch the “What WE Think” suite of reports. The input of Children and Young People is critical to Ireland’s input to UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities and the Universal Periodic Review. The results of the consultation process will also help inform my department’s future policy development.
"The views of Children and Young People are vital to the development of child-centred policies and protections which reflects a core value in a society where children can flourish and see a brighter future. This suite of reports will assist the work to ensure this future and empower children to voice what kind of future they want.”
Consultations focussed on children and young people rights as a child in Ireland and took into account the requirements of the UNCRC, UNCRPD and the UPR processes. A working group which included teachers, representatives from the National Disability Authority, Hub na nÓg and Participation Unit devised the methodology for the children while a Youth Advisory Group worked on the young people element. 1,215 children aged 4-13 took part in their classrooms (21 primary schools) and 46 young people (13-18) participated in Zoom consultations. Participants came from a variety of urban and rural locations, including from hard-to-reach populations such as those living in designated disadvantaged areas, with English as a second language or with special educational needs. Children in Gaelscoileanna were also consulted through the Irish language.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most rapidly ratified human rights treaty in history with more countries having ratified the Convention than any other human rights treaty in history - 196 countries have become State Parties to the Convention as of December 2021.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the UN in 2006. Ireland signed the Convention in 2007 and ratified the Convention in 2018. The Convention adopts a broad categorisation of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply to persons with disabilities and identifies areas where adaptations have to be made for persons with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights and areas where their rights have been violated, and where protection of rights must be reinforced.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States on an equal treatment for all countries. It provides an opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights. The UPR also includes a sharing of best human rights practices around the globe. The UPR aims to improve the human rights situation in every country by prompting, supporting, and expanding the promotion and protection of human rights on the ground.
All States Parties to the Conventions are obliged to submit regular reports to the UN on how they are being implemented. After the reports have been submitted, Ireland must attend public examinations by the UN who make observations and recommendations to Ireland on the implementation of the Conventions.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth prepared the State Reports on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities and the Universal Periodic Review in close collaboration with relevant government departments and consulted extensively with children, young people, and civil society stakeholders.