Friday, December 10, 2010

The Immigrant Council of Ireland marks Human Rights Day 2010

The Immigrant Council of Ireland have marked Human Rights Day 2010 by arguing that Ireland have failed to meet its international human rights obligations in relation to the treatment of migrants.

The ICI’s press release submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs NGO Forum on Human Rights held today discussed Ireland’s examination by the UN Human Rights Council, providing an opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.

ICI senior solicitor Hilkka Becker said that Ireland has an established reputation as a defender of human rights – in other countries – but there are a number of areas where their treatment of migrants here in this country falls short of their international obligations.

She pointed out that the  treatment of victims of sex trafficking, who are among the most vulnerable and exploited people in Ireland, falls well short of what is required of them under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. And while their treatment of victims of trafficking is far from international best practice, even this level of protection and assistance is denied to many exploited women because of overly bureaucratic processes that delay and prevent the formal identification of women as victims of this crime.  

Source: Ruth Evans - Media and Communications Manager Immigrant Council of Ireland