Tánaiste's Remarks at the Launch of Ireland's Human Rights Council Campaign

Good morning,

Thank you, Ambassador, for the warm welcome, and please allow me to also welcome former President of Ireland and former High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, with whom I am delighted to share a podium – you are a global advocate for good and a true national treasure.

This year, we mark the 70th Anniversary of our membership of the United Nations.

On this anniversary, it is timely that we reiterate our commitment to that system, and the fundamental human rights, principles and values that underpin in it.

Human Rights are one of three pillars on which the United Nations is founded and they are central to our foreign policy.

A commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law have guided us from our first steps as an independent State over 100 years ago to the modern and outward looking nation we are today.

It underpins our commitment to peace in our own country and created the conditions which led to the Good Friday Agreement and peace in Northern Ireland.

It has also underpinned our long tradition of peacekeeping, humanitarianism and development cooperation, as well as our strong adherence to and support for the universal values that the United Nations espouses.

In a turbulent world, there has surely never been a time of greater challenge to the work of promoting and protecting universal human rights and seeing the promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - adopted with such great hope just over 75 years ago - upheld.

I am proud that our leadership on human rights is recognised around the world.

We take seriously the weight our voice carries on these matters.

Our human rights record within Ireland is indeed human, and imperfect, but we have been able to tell Ireland’s story of moving towards equality in powerful and meaningful ways.

Not to preach or impose our experiences on others, but to share the path that we have walked.

The strides forward that we, as a small nation, have taken together, towards greater equality, progress on women’s rights, and the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, are significant.

Just days ago, I agreed a new framework for addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland, with the British Government.

These are intensely challenging issues. Despite best efforts and best intentions, it has taken 27 years to reach this point.

Families can only have confidence in institutions that operate to the highest standards, especially when trust has been damaged in the wake of a conflict.

In Northern Ireland, the European Convention on Human Rights, a core safeguard in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, sets a baseline for government action.

Over recent months, the language of human rights has been ever-present in my engagement with families and those who support them.

Human rights are not abstractions.

They impact daily lives and decisions.

They set standards to which we must hold ourselves and each other.

Globally, we are facing efforts to undermine the UN system.

An ‘anti-rights agenda’ is on the rise. The number of ongoing conflicts is at its highest level globally since the Cold War.

We cannot look away.

We will not be silent.

The hard lessons of the current global climate are that these gains, however much we consider them to be a guarantee of inherent rights, are not to be taken for granted.

Against the backdrop of rising conflicts and of human made disasters, we are reminded again of the central tenet of Ireland’s international development programme; to reach the furthest behind first.

This includes protecting the rights of the most vulnerable in times of crisis and conflict, including the rights of persons with disabilities.

It includes supporting people to secure the most basic of human rights, including the right to be free from hunger.

We will continue to stand with those defending human rights.

We will continue to place values at the centre of our foreign policy.

It is our deep commitment to values-led foreign policy with respect for human rights at the centre, that has led us to seek election to the Human Rights Council, 2027 – 2029.

I am honoured to be able to launch our priorities for that campaign, and future membership, here today in the company of those who have lived experience of defending the values we have placed at the centre of our campaign:

1.

Firstly, we are committed to supporting the role of civil society and human rights defenders.

Civil society is crucial in our collective efforts to promote and protect human rights at the domestic, regional and international levels.

The protection and promotion of the vital work of human rights defenders cannot be understated.

At a time of growing restriction on civic space globally, and a marked increase in regressive laws, Ireland has a vital and impactful role to play.

This is drawn from our own history, throughout over one hundred years of democracy. Being a vibrant and open civil society has contributed enormously to our socio-economic development, to the end of conflict on our island, and to enabling our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals at home and overseas.

Secondly, we will continue to champion women’s rights and gender equality. Ireland will work to counter the pushback against the rights of women and girls around the world.

Nationally, we have been on our own journey for the realisation of women’s rights and gender equality.

We have learnt the lessons from the dark chapters in our own past where women’s voices were ignored and silenced.

Last week, I launched our fourth national action plan for the Women, Peace and Security agenda, a key example of our commitment to women’s empowerment and participation, and a human rights-based approach to lasting peace.

Our commitment to women’s rights was evidenced last week in New York also with the adoption of a Resolution on the Revitalisation of the Commission on the Status of Women – a Resolution Ireland and St Kitts and Nevis have been co-facilitating since February 2025.

Ireland took on this task due to our prioritisation of women’s rights as human rights internationally, as well as our esteem for the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women as a vehicle to continue to further this agenda.

3.

Thirdly, we will continue to work tirelessly to defend the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, working through the UN and our global partners.

Later this week I will attend a LGBTIQ+ event that celebrates milestones of progress in the 80 years since the UN Charter, including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the World Programme of Action for Youth.

I am frankly frustrated that, decades on from these milestones of progress, LGBTIQ+ people continue to face disproportionate levels of violence and systemic discrimination – including criminalisation of who they are.

The contribution of young people, particularly young people from the LGBTIQ+ community has been essential in driving change in Ireland, and I look forward to their input and contribution to our campaign for and membership of the Human Rights Council.

4.

Fourthly, we will bring renewed attention to the most basic of human needs, the fundamental right to adequate food, which is being challenged by rising conflicts, and impacted by climate change.

In too many parts of our world, from Yemen, to Sudan, to Gaza, we are seeing famine conditions that shame us all.

As a country haunted by the spectre of the Great Hunger – An Gorta Mór – the Irish famine of the 1800s, this is a scourge that we cannot endure.

In our world of plenty, there is simply no excuse why anyone should go without food.

We must do better.

And finally, we will bring a strong focus to the rights of persons with disabilities in conflict.

Around the world, an estimated 1 billion people live with a disability, of this billion, 80% live in developing countries, many in areas at high risk of climate-related shocks and conflict.

Poverty, conflict and climate-related disasters are drivers of disability in compounding and interlinked ways.

People with disabilities are too often marginalised in accessing the benefits of development cooperation and humanitarian responses.

Women with disabilities in particular, face intersecting forms of discrimination and marginalisation.

Earlier this month, Ireland launched our National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People, 2025 – 2030.

This plan is to advance the realisation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will inform our engagement on how to support persons with disability arising from and within conflict.

1. Civil society and human rights defenders.
2. Women’s rights and gender equality.
3. The rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
4. The right to food.
5. The rights of people with disabilities in conflicts.

These are the priorities that will guide us in our campaign and membership, underpinned by a deep commitment to the universality of human rights and to international law.

I want to end with a short reflection on the possibilities and opportunities before us.

While we, as a global community, are facing truly unexpected and unforeseen challenges, crisis always brings opportunity.

The reform process currently facing the UN has the potential to bring forward a better future for the youth of the world.

Those of who espouse the principles of multilateralism must unite in a robust defence of our values.

Never has there been a greater need for the international human rights system.

Ireland will continue to be a friend, an advocate and a vigorous voice for those who defend human rights around the world.

Closing remarks

Thank you, Ambassador.

Thank you, former President Robinson for sharing your reflections on the importance of human rights in the current global context.

And to Hala, Yuliia and Aisling for telling us your extraordinary stories.

It is as ever truly insightful to hear directly from those protecting and defending human rights.

Listening to your contributions and your engagement with our policy priorities for membership, I was recalling an exchange I had with High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, during his visit to Dublin last week.

During a public address at the Irish Institute of International and European Affairs, the High Commissioner reflected on the strong oral tradition within Ireland alongside our commitment to those universal values and human rights.

He referred to Seamus Heaney’s poem, From the Republic of Conscience, which was written to mark International Human Rights Day 40 years ago. If you will indulge me, I would like to recite the final lines of that poem.

Lines that remind us of need for continued dialogue and the power of diplomacy, and, ultimately, that those of us who would protect and defend human rights must all be ambassadors.

Their embassies, he said, were everywhere

but operated independently

and no ambassador would ever be relieved.

Former President Robinson, I know Seamus Heaney was a close friend of yours and you worked together often.

This poem, written for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, inspires us all to aim for better, to do better for others.

We are all ambassadors for human rights.

Hala, thank you so much for sharing some of the most challenging abuses of human rights faced by women and girls across the Horn of Africa.

I am awed by the courage and commitment to dignity and human rights in the face of such devastation.

True equality, lasting peace and a vibrant democracy cannot be assured without the full, equal and meaningful participation of women.

Ireland is steadfast behind you, defending the rights of women and girls and providing support to those affected by sexual violence.

I was moved hearing from Yuliia about the personal experience of living with a disability during conflict.

Your reflection and insight have been invaluable to me this morning, as I reflect on how Ireland can bring a voice to these issues during our HRC membership.

And I am inspired to hear from Aisling, who has given voice to the central role that young people will have during our campaign and membership of the Council.

Young people around the world will hold us to account on our commitments and assist us in realising our vision of universal human rights.

I have been moved, challenged and inspired this morning, and stimulated by the depth of engagement and interest in Ireland’s membership of the Human Rights Council.

As a small island country, we remain firmly committed to upholding multilateralism with the UN at its heart.

We remain committed to upholding human rights and respect for the innate dignity of each of us - of every individual.

If elected, we will be an active and engaged member of the Council, committed to hearing voices from all over the world as we work to realise human rights for all.

We will work in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

We will bring our principled support for civil society to our membership.

And we will continue to always steadfastly defend those who defend human rights.

I look forward to continued conversations with you all on our bid to bring the spirt of A Republic of Conscience and the absolute affirmation of human dignity and equal rights to, membership of the Human Rights Council.

Thank you.