On Monday 6 April 2009 the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, FLAC (The Free Legal Advice Centres) and Irish Penal Reform Trust will host a panel of top UN human rights experts to highlight the Government’s responsibility to protect the rights of the most vulnerable people in Ireland.

Implementing Human Rights in a Time of Change: Facing Up to Challenges under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) will see UN Human Rights Committee members Judge Elizabeth Palm and Professor Michael O’Flaherty discuss the international standards set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the importance of their implementation.

The Government has yet to implement a series of human rights recommendations for Ireland produced last summer by the UN. These recommendations, mirrored by a ‘shadow report’ published in June 2008 by the ICCL, IPRT and FLAC, highlighted gaps in the protection of the vulnerable which the Government failed to close during the boom years. These included the ongoing imposition of imprisonment for failure to pay civil debts; unhygienic and overcrowded conditions in Irish prisons and failures to adequately combat domestic violence.

Speaking today, ICCL Director Mr. Mark Kelly stated today:

“This conference will provide a very timely opportunity to take stock of the Government’s human rights responsibilities, particularly towards Ireland’s most vulnerable, those who were left behind by the boom years”.

“In this harsh economic climate, where the importance of preserving and promoting human rights can often be overlooked, implementation of the UN Committee’s recommendations has never been more urgent. Positive action will be required achieve this.” he added.

Implementing Human Rights in a Time of Change will take place from 10:00am on Monday 6 April in the Radisson Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. The full conference programme is available HERE.

A photocall and interviews with participants for press and broadcast media will take place in advance of the conference from 9:30 am, assembly in the Radisson hotel lobby.

For further details on the conference, and to download the ICCL/IPRT/FLAC joint ICCPR Shadow Report and related materials, please visit www.rightsmonitor.org.

For all press enquiries, and to arrange interviews with conference participants and ICCL, IPRT and FLAC representatives please see our contacts page.