Seventeen organisations have come together to take part in the Your Rights. Right Now campaign, whose aim is to help people hold the State to account for its human rights record under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. The UPR allows United Nations (UN) member states to directly examine each other on their human rights record with the ultimate aim of improving the human rights situation in all countries. The campaign, launched on 31 January 2011, is a mechanism to allow organisations and individuals to make their views heard in the process.
The campaign will include consultations with organisations and individuals around the country which will inform the civil society report the campaigning organisations will submit. You can also submit your organisation's report to feed into the campaign's civil society report. The deadline for submission is 4 March 2011.
For more information on the Your Rights. Right Now campaign including dates and locations for the consultations and the list of seventeen organisations involved please click here.
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC), as Ireland's national human rights institution, is also making a submission to the UN under the UPR process. You can also feed your organisation's issues into the IHRC's report. Submissions for consideration to the IHRC should be made by 14 February 2011. They will also support you in writing your own report. For more information please click here.
The Government will need to submit a National Report on its domestic human rights situation, to be used as a basis for the Review (max 20 pages) by 4 July 2011. The Government is required to hold a broad consultation process at the national level with all relevant stakeholders in preparation of the National Report. The Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs is inviting members of the public and organisations to highlight issues of concern regarding Ireland's human rights record. To view the website, please click here.
If your organisation is submitting its own UPR report to the UN please note the deadline is 21 March 2011.