THE GOVERNMENT will be pressed on Ireland’s abortion laws at the United Nations in Geneva today when its human rights record comes under review from fellow member states.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, leading a large delegation of officials to the UN Human Rights Council, will face questioning across a range of subjects, including mental health, children’s and Travellers’ rights, and conditions of detention. It will be the first time Ireland has had to answer for its record under the UN’s universal periodic review.
Six countries have submitted questions in advance relating to Ireland’s stance on abortion. Finland, Slovenia and Denmark have asked the Government to clarify the circumstances under which an abortion may be lawful; while the UK, the Netherlands and Norway have sought details on the expert group which the Government has said it will set up in response to a test case at the European Court of Human Rights last year.
Mr Shatter will be asked by representatives of Finland and the UK to explain what progress is being made to create effective national bodies to monitor conditions in places of detention, while both those countries – as well as the Netherlands – have tabled questions about children’s rights.
The Czech Republic’s delegation will ask the Government if it will grant ethnic minority status to Travellers, while Mr Shatter will also be invited to explain whether Ireland is willing to enact a law to underpin the right of workers to collective bargaining.
On the eve of the hearing, the Irish Human Rights Commission said it had urged the Government to make 15 voluntary commitments to address “serious gaps in human rights protection” in advance of the Geneva session. “To date no such commitments have been made,” said its chief executive, Éamonn Mac Aodha. “I hope the Government takes the opportunity today . . . to announce changes that will improve human rights protection in Ireland.”
Chairman of the commission Maurice Manning said it was not acceptable that important human rights treaties that would help protect vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities and in detention remain to be ratified. “The commission has raised its concerns with member states of the Human Rights Council, urging them to make strong recommendations for change and so compel Ireland to address the deficiencies in human rights protection.”
In its recommendations in advance of the hearing, Amnesty International urged the Government to follow many countries and use its planned review of the Constitution to incorporate economic, social and cultural rights as legally enforceable ones.
On mental health, Amnesty called for legislation to place a statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive to deliver the reform programme set out in its policy document A Vision for Change. Mr Shatter is expected to make a short opening statement before a three-hour question-and-answer session involving dozens of national representatives.
The Irish delegation comprises about 15 officials from four Government departments.
A report summarising the discussion and offering recommendations will then be adopted next Monday, and Ireland can choose to accept or reject those recommendations. The final report is due to be adopted at a plenary session of the Human Rights Council next March.
Today’s three-hour session is being closely watched by Irish charities and advocacy groups.
A coalition of 17 such organisations, known as Your Rights Right Now, has been lobbying diplomats in recent months. It plans to hold events in Geneva, Dublin, Cork and Limerick today to coincide with the hearing.