Irish Council for Civil Liberties
Encyclopedia
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is an Irish
non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the civil liberties
and human rights
of people in Ireland.
, Kader Asmal
and others, it remains to the forefront of the Civil Rights movement in Ireland. Their primary role is in campaigning for civil rights as well as networking with other civil rights groups within the island of Ireland, both North and South. During the divorce campaign of the 1980s and 1990s, the ICCL campaigned to support the legalisation of divorce which had previously been prohibited in the Constitution
. In 1995 this was successfully passed
.
The ICCL are a member organisation of the International Federation of Human Rights
.
In October 2011, the ICCL said the information provided to voters in advance of polling in two constitutional referendums
on the Twenty-ninth Amendment and Thirtieth Amendment
was "tardy and inadequate".and advocated a 'no' vote on the proposed Thirtieth Amendment.
The Thirtieth Amendment was subsequently rejected by 116,000 votes.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
of people in Ireland.
History
Founded in 1976 by future President Mary RobinsonMary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
, Kader Asmal
Kader Asmal
Kader Asmal was a South African politician. He was a professor of human rights at the University of the Western Cape, chairman of the council of the University of the North and vice-president of the African Association of International Law. He was married to Louise Parkinson and has two sons...
and others, it remains to the forefront of the Civil Rights movement in Ireland. Their primary role is in campaigning for civil rights as well as networking with other civil rights groups within the island of Ireland, both North and South. During the divorce campaign of the 1980s and 1990s, the ICCL campaigned to support the legalisation of divorce which had previously been prohibited in the Constitution
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
. In 1995 this was successfully passed
Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland repealed the constitutional prohibition of divorce. It was effected by the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1995, which was approved by referendum on 24 November 1995 and signed into law on 17 June 1996.-Changes to the...
.
The ICCL are a member organisation of the International Federation of Human Rights
International Federation of Human Rights
The International Federation for Human Rights is a non-governmental federation for human rights organizations. Founded in 1922, FIDH is the oldest international human rights organisation worldwide and today brings together 164 member organisations in over 100 countries.FIDH is nonpartisan,...
.
In October 2011, the ICCL said the information provided to voters in advance of polling in two constitutional referendums
Irish constitutional referendums, 2011
Two referendums were held simultaneously in Ireland on 27 October 2011, each on a proposed amendment of the Constitution of Ireland. The proposed amendments are on judicial salaries pay cuts, and to provide additional powers to Oireachtas committees....
on the Twenty-ninth Amendment and Thirtieth Amendment
Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2011 (Ireland)
The Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2011 was a bill which, if enacted, would have amended the Constitution of Ireland "in order to provide for the...
was "tardy and inadequate".and advocated a 'no' vote on the proposed Thirtieth Amendment.
The Thirtieth Amendment was subsequently rejected by 116,000 votes.