Irish Human Rights Commission
Encyclopedia
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) is a public body, state-funded but independent of government, that promotes and protects human rights in the Republic of Ireland
. It was established in 2000 by an Act of the Oireachtas
(the Irish parliament). As one of the two national human rights institutions (NHRIs) on the island of Ireland
, like the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
(NIHRC) its creation was a consequence of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement
of 10 April 1998. It is required to maintain a joint committee with the NIHRC to consider human rights issues affecting both jurisdictions, such as a possible Charter of Rights for the Island of Ireland.
The IHRC has a full-time president and 14 other part-time commissioners, who serve for five-year terms. The first president was Mr Justice Donal Barrington, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland, who was succeeded in August 2002 by former Fine Gael
senator Dr Maurice Manning
.
The functions of the IHRC include advising on the compatibility of legislation with the rights protected by the Constitution of Ireland
and by international treaties to which the state is party. It also engages in human rights education
and conducts inquiries into alleged violations of human rights.
, a body sponsored by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR). The IHRC's "A status" accreditation allows it special access to the United Nations
human rights system, including speaking rights at the Human Rights Council and other committees. The Commission has presented parallel reports ("shadow reports") to several UN treaty committees examining Ireland's compliance with international human rights instruments
. The IHRC has since 2006 chaired the European Group of NHRIs
, one of four regional sub-groups of NHRIs, and consequently sits on the Bureau of the ICC.
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,...
. It was established in 2000 by an Act of the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
(the Irish parliament). As one of the two national human rights institutions (NHRIs) on the island of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, like the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a non-departmental public body funded through the Northern Ireland Office but operating independently of government as the national human rights institution for Northern Ireland...
(NIHRC) its creation was a consequence of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
of 10 April 1998. It is required to maintain a joint committee with the NIHRC to consider human rights issues affecting both jurisdictions, such as a possible Charter of Rights for the Island of Ireland.
The IHRC has a full-time president and 14 other part-time commissioners, who serve for five-year terms. The first president was Mr Justice Donal Barrington, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland, who was succeeded in August 2002 by former Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
senator Dr Maurice Manning
Maurice Manning
Maurice Manning is a former Irish Fine Gael politician. Manning was a member of the Oireachtas for 21 years, serving in both the Dáil and the Seanad. Since August 2002 he has been President of the Irish Human Rights Commission...
.
The functions of the IHRC include advising on the compatibility of legislation with the rights protected by the Constitution of Ireland
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...
and by international treaties to which the state is party. It also engages in human rights education
Human rights education
Human rights education is the teaching of the history, theory, and law of human rights in schools and educational institutions, as well as outreach to the general public.-Human rights education and the United Nations:...
and conducts inquiries into alleged violations of human rights.
International status
The IHRC is one of some 70 NHRIs accredited by the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIsInternational Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions
The International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions, sometimes shortened to the International Coordinating Committee , is a global network of national human rights institutions - administrative bodies set up to promote, protect and monitor human rights in a given country...
, a body sponsored by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a United Nations agency that works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948...
(OHCHR). The IHRC's "A status" accreditation allows it special access to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
human rights system, including speaking rights at the Human Rights Council and other committees. The Commission has presented parallel reports ("shadow reports") to several UN treaty committees examining Ireland's compliance with international human rights instruments
International human rights instruments
International human rights instruments are treaties and other international documents relevant to international human rights law and the protection of human rights in general...
. The IHRC has since 2006 chaired the European Group of NHRIs
European Group of National Human Rights Institutions
The European Group of NHRIs is one of four regional networks of national human rights institutions within the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs...
, one of four regional sub-groups of NHRIs, and consequently sits on the Bureau of the ICC.