Human Rights World

The Aid Debate

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 18:08:00 +0000

"Don't cut aid. It's working."

That's the message Oxfam America is trying to send to the US Congress. It's uncomplicated and jargon free and the campaign behind this message showcases how individuals are leveraging the investment of aid to create a more sustainable and prosperous future for their communities and others.

It's an interesting and very worthwhile addition to the aid debate as far too often during recessionary periods, government aid budgets are not only under scrutiny but also attack. While no one denies the need for perpetual monitoring and evaluation of all elements of national expenditure by governments, the analysis that accompanies the aid debate tends to be overly negative.

Interestingly what often is said to be missing from the debate is evidence of impact and success in a form digestible to the general public. I wonder will this approach go some way towards redressing that deficit and whether other organisations will follow suit.

Have a look and decide for yourself.

Delay in the Face of Agreement

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:08:00 +0000

On my way to work this morning, I was struck by the latest banner to adorn the SIPTU building in Dublin City Centre:

What struck me was not the image or the messaging but rather the fact that the Turn Off the Red Light campaign has now been running for roughly 18 months. Although this is a relatively short period of time in the world of campaigning, most issue based campaigns face some form of opposition. Whether that be proactively by vested interests (such as polluting sectors opposing genuine action on climate change) or by reactive/inactive decision makers (overawed by the scale of the problem, eg: the eradication of global hunger).

But what the TORL campaign is calling for is action to address the fact that buying sex is not illegal in Ireland (unless the seller has been trafficked and the buyer is conscientious enough to have asked). So an end to prostitution and sex trafficking.

That leaves me wondering:

- Who would oppose sanctions against the buyers of sex?
- Who could (or would) argue that prostitution and trafficking are not an exploitation of women and therefore not a matter that requires action?
- Who believes the numbers of buyers wouldn't dramatically reduce if their role was criminalized?
- What is the delay in the production of legislation?

I haven't managed to find answers for any of the above but if you'd like to learn more about the issue, take a look at the TORL's latest submission to government here.

Bearing the Brunt - Women and the Recession

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:10:00 +0000

This morning I had the pleasure of attending a seminar hosted by the National Women's council of Ireland, entitled Bearing the Brunt? Women and the Recession.

A well packed room was treated to a fascinating discussion about the complete lack of any type of gender analysis from public debate about the recession and its impacts in Ireland.

Brilliantly, all the presentations have been made available on the NWCI website.

Enjoy and when reading through Thora Thorsdottir's compelling presentation about the comparable situation in Iceland, pay particular attention to the graph on slide 7 of 20 which highlights the disgraceful change in the real disposable earnings of SOME couples (lower income of course) between 2008 and 2009.

Unintended Consequences…Just Get it Right

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:47:00 +0000

This week, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste spoke proudly about the moves made within the Dáil and Seanad to approve the setting up of a Constitutional Convention. A unique initiative in Ireland, the aim is purportedly to endow our Constitution with a form appropriate for the 21st Century.

Despite the odd platitude or two expressed in their Irish Times opinion piece and their audacity to claim that many people “believe that a disconnection has arisen between politics and wider society” rather than acknowledging the fact that citizens perceive that disconnection and suffer from it on a daily basis, the upcoming Constitutional Convention is sufficiently important to quickly navigate and ignore the first few paragraphs.

Also important is the fact that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste profess their awareness of the responsibility the Government bears to ensure that any proposal made by the convention can be achieved without leading to any unintended consequences. So trying to get things right from the very beginning would be a good start, wouldn’t it? And that’s the exact opposite of what they’re suggesting.

The first task assigned to the convention is to consider reducing the presidential terms of office (to five years) and reducing the voting age to 17. Firstly, I fail to see how marginally reducing the presidential term limit is of such importance as to have found itself so high up the list of priorities for the convention, particularly when the wider electoral system is so desperately in need of reform. More importantly and with regard to reducing the voting age to 17, how can we allow 16 year olds to legally leave school, secure full time employment, begin paying tax, suffer detention and assume many other responsibilities and duties but not afford them the right to have a say in how their country is run?

A bad start can be forgiven however, just so long as the other areas being considered by the convention are of significant relevance to Irish society, treated with due respect and given robust examination…

Which is why it is disappointing to see that making provision for same-sex marriage is a highlight of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste’s agenda. Not that the convention shouldn’t investigate and outline steps to realise such a fundamental right in our Constitution but rather that there is no suggestion that the related (and complicated) issue of adoption by same-sex couples will be addressed or account taken of the inevitable impact that such a situation will have on the rights of the child. If the Constitutional Convention is to really be such a unique opportunity, then there is no justification for taking half measures or leaving difficult choices for a different generation. Such matters must be addressed holistically and in full now.

Similarly, it is hard to feel overly confident that the Government will genuinely run with any strong proposal to increase the participation of women in politics – another area they highlighted as being in need of 21st Century reform. If such ambition actually existed within the present Government, then there would have been no need for the National Women’s Council of Ireland to petition Minister Phil Hogan and demand that the Electoral amendment (political funding) Bill 2011 also enforced candidate gender targets for local elections, rather than just General Elections. As local elections are widely seen as a platform for a career in national politics, the Bill had failed to address the issue of women’s participation in politics in full. Again a half measure, and again a source of doubt about how the Government may engage with the Constitutional Convention.

Saying that, the upcoming process is not inherently flawed and there certainly are positive elements, particularly with regard to transparency and accountability. In addition, the convention will be made up of a cross section of Irish society and include parliamentarians from our kinsfolk in the Northern Irish Assembly. The problem is that despite the “profound importance” of this process, the recent rhetoric from the Taoiseach and Tánaiste fails to instil confidence or arouse trust that the mission being undertaken on behalf of the Irish people will be successful in improving the lives of the people of this island. And surely that is the only intended consequence that should matter.

Over to You

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:29:00 +0000

The Dáil adjourned today and will not sit again until after next Thursday's referendum on the fiscal treaty.

So now it's up to the Irish public to consider all the arguments that have been put forward, all the accusations cast and each premonition made.

Unfortunately both the NO and YES camps have rarely, if ever, debated the actual text or the real implications of the passage or rejection of this treaty. Instead they have engaged in scaremongering and focused on unrelated issues, ostensibly educating the Irish public about the treaty but really pursuing their own agendas with feverish intention.

We have heard time and time again that Irish voters are a mature and educated electorate. So it's time to live up to that label by turning off the radio and the television and putting down the newspaper.

Instead, let us all read the actual treaty (a downloadable copy of which can be found here)and base our decision on that alone.

The Light is Still On...

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:27:00 +0000

In recent weeks, a group of Irish Senators challenged the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, on the passing of his 6 month commitment to review prostitution law in Ireland and his apparent failure to take any significant action in that time. In support of the Turn Off the Red Light campaign (which seeks to end prostitution and sex trafficking in Ireland), the Senators re-affirmed the campaign's demand for a public consultation on the criminalization of the purchase of sex.

In response, Minister Shatter announced that a detailed discussion document, being produced by his department and designed to facilitate the public consultation, would be published by the end of May 2012. He also offered resassurance that the commitments he gave 6 months ago still stood.

Hopefully, come the end of May, the discussion document will indeed be published and the Minister will not have to offer any reassurances about his commitment to this issue again. However, just to be sure, I would encourage everyone to highlight the issue to their local TDs so that it doesn't fall from the agenda for another 6 months.

You can take action on this issue here.

Framing Development

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:43:00 +0000

Minister of State, Joe Costello, addressed the Dóchas AGM last week on the theme of 'Reflecting the Role that NGOs can play in Shaping Public Discourse on Aid and Development. The full text of his speech is below and is well worth a read. However, for a much more involved and detailed analysis of how NGOs and other key stakeholders unknowingly perpetuate an anachronistic understanding of global poverty and social justice, please do set aside some time to read the fantastic Finding Frames.

Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank you for inviting me to open the Dóchas Annual Conference. Since I took office as Minister of State for Trade and Development, I have met with many of you and have been struck by your passion and commitment to development and the fight against global poverty and hunger. I have also been impressed by the commitment to critical reflection that characterises your practice and the way you run your organisations.

The theme of this Conference is challenging. You are taking time out to honestly explore how NGOs are shaping public attitudes to development and global poverty.

In many respects, this is a good news story. The recent MRBI poll informs us that 88% of Irish people are proud of Ireland’s contribution to development and the eradication of hunger and poverty. I believe this pride comes from a place of empathy; many Irish people have a deep personal interest in development. Undoubtedly the depth of understanding and interest varies from person to person but I believe that there are few of us who are untouched by our own history of conflict, famine and poverty. This history, in part, shapes our world view as Irish people. In turn it provides fertile soil for those of us who want to build a deep public commitment to a better world, free from poverty and hunger. It speaks to the need for justice in our international relations, to the need for mutual support as we tackle climate change and the need for fairness as we address international trade rules.

In recent times, many Irish households have experienced real hardship as the impact of a prolonged economic recession has resulted in a significant drop in income. We have watched and listened to some debate where we are asked to choose between supporting a special care unit in a national children’s hospital or possibly supporting a health programme in a distant land. The choice is actually a false one but nonetheless its presentation by the media can feed into doubts and questions about the very legitimacy of development aid in the current context..

I have travelled around the country during the White Paper consultation process and listened to many perspectives. A number of the written submissions we received in the White Paper consultation process questioned whether Ireland can actually afford an aid programme at all.

Part of the problem resides in the fact that development and charity are used interchangeably. The analysis often presented reduces the contribution people are asked to make to a financial transaction., A transaction that may be sufficient until the next appeal. I am not underestimating the importance of aid budgets or aid appeals because I do believe that they make a substantial difference to the lives of people. I also see it as a substantial achievement that, to date, we have managed to sustain public support and maintain the percentage of GNP allocated to the overseas aid budget.

However if most of our messages centre on money, we can miss important opportunities to debate on the nature of political, social and economic transformation.

What is the long term aim of our communication and development education strategies? Surely it must be a more informed and politically aware public who are ready to support the political and policy changes necessary for eliminating global poverty and tackling complex problems such as climate change?

Communicating clearly with the public on development cooperation and maintaining public support is a challenge for both Government and NGOs. To succeed, we must initially examine the messages we are disseminating to ensure they are presenting an accurate and modern vision of development. Then we need to look at how the messages and images portrayed are utilised by all of us to garner support from the Irish public. Thirdly, we must develop tools and strategies to constantly improve our communications.

Looking first to the messages and images we portray. Poverty and inequality are global problems – whether they manifest in Ireland or they manifest in the developing world. Regardless of where poverty is experienced, its cause and effect are rarely simple. For decades, development education practitioners have provided leadership in presenting the complex underlying causes of poverty and inequality while emphasising the global interconnections between people and countries. Yet often the messages and images portrayed in our fundraising and communications are at odds and focus on the negative and the simple.

News reports and charity appeals reinforce stereotypes of disaster and relentless poverty. People in developing countries are perceived as passive victims rather than active participants in their own recovery. Images of violence, pain and death are becoming more commonplace, leading to ‘compassion fatigue’ and for some a race to the bottom in terms of the level of horror they are willing to portray in the media.

We must deconstruct this somewhat patronising and simplistic model of development, yet we must also recognise that these images often garner support. You, as NGOs, need to examine further the way in which development work is portrayed . I understand that images and messages are used for a variety of purposes – to engage and inform the public, to support advocacy, to account for funding and to support fundraising initiatives. The latter is perhaps the most important to many of you in the face of more challenging economic times. However, short term gains in terms of fundraising or profile should not, if at all possible, take precedence over the long term vision of contributing to a more just global society.

Many of the larger NGOs in Ireland recognise the need to examine and resolve the tension between the images and messages contained in their fundraising strategies on one hand and their mandate to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and inequality on the other. These discussions are just beginning. There is a need for the sector as whole to commit jointly to change if we are to achieve a greater coherence between fundraising messages and sound public awareness programmes. We can work on this together.

I welcome the fact that you are here today to examine current strategies and tools around communicating development. The Dóchas Code of Images and Messages sets out clearly a commitment to presenting development in a way which propagates the values of respect, equality, solidarity and justice. It sets the standards for all communications. I wish to acknowledge the excellent work on this.

A focus on standards is something to which Irish Aid is also committed in its work with partners. It is easy to agree to something in principle. The real test is in compliance. I welcome the continued work Dóchas proposes to do in the area of monitoring compliance of the code.

With the help of tools such as the Code, the discourse is shifting. The new paradigm places development within the context of increased global connectivity and opportunity. People, especially young people, have travelled to many continents and often have their own experiences of visiting developing countries and seeing absolute poverty at first hand. Social media and the internet have also created new links between those living in developing countries and people in Ireland.

This new discourse needs to be underpinned by a strong emphasis on learning and reflection. We must continue to critically examine our programmes of work; to see what interventions work and to try to replicate them; to focus on our intended results and be honest about what works, what does not and why.

This summer we will be showcasing the Nation’s football skills at international level in Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine. It could be argued that our skills in development are more effective than our skills in football. Let us showcase this effectiveness – in Ireland and on the international playing field and most importantly in the communities where we work. Let us get the support of the Irish people behind effective development. Let us trust them to engage with the complex reality behind the images of poverty.

To reiterate, one way of doing this is to reach for excellence in our imaging and messaging. This is something on which we can can focus on and get right.

The next is to engage in clear communications with the public on development. If this is done well the long term impact on support for development within Ireland could be immense. We need to be clear why we are communicating and what we want to achieve from it. Also we need to use the opportunities such as our 2013 European Presidency to showcase our development programme. We can commence by portraying people in developing countries as citizens rather than victims; as people seeking to lead fulfilling lives with the potential to be active agents in their own political and economic change. Our communications on development should reflect the excellence of our development programmes and the empathy we bring to development practice, we can and we should do better.

I would once again like to thank Dóchas for inviting me to open this conference today. I wish you all a successful conference and look forward to not only a frank discussion but also the future impact this ongoing dialogue can have on how we portray the work we do globally.

Patients Before Profit

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:25:00 +0000

A very important action that I would encourage everyone to take. See below for more information:

...India produces most of the developing world’s supply of generic medicines for HIV, cancer and other diseases. But if a giant Swiss pharmaceutical company, Novartis, gets its way, the “pharmacy to the developing world” could come to a screeching halt.

Novartis is challenging a patent law in India that prevents “evergreening” — a tactic that drug companies use to extend patents on drugs that are about to expire by making tiny tweaks to the medication. They don’t want India, the world’s largest producer of generic life-saving medicine for developing countries, to keep supplying generic HIV, malaria, and cancer medicines at affordable prices. If Novartis wins this lawsuit, it will cause millions of people worldwide to lose access to affordable medicines in the future.

Activists and groups like Doctors Without Borders, CARE and Oxfam have been working for five years to oppose this potentially disastrous decision, and the pressure is working. Just last month, they staged a massive day of action that put Novartis on the defensive. Novartis has even asked to meet with the activists to show they’re “listening”.

Now, it is all coming down to March 28th, when India’s Supreme Court is going to make its final decision. Activists have agreed to deliver our petition to Novartis just before this goes to court, as one final push to get Novartis to drop the case.

This is about more than just one company and one medicine. A Novartis victory would mean that patents would be issued for dozens of life-saving medications currently made generically, like vaccines and pediatric formulations of HIV drugs. This is a game-changing moment for global health, and we have to beat this challenge back.

For Big Pharma, patents mean profits. But for the rest of the world, harsh patents can mean denied access to life-saving vaccines, malaria medicine and cancer medications that can cost upwards of US $98,000 per year.

India has been called the “pharmacy of the developing world” because it manufactures affordable generic drugs used around the world. Now Novartis, which made billions of dollars last year in profits, wants to make sure that India’s Supreme Court overturns a law that would cut into that profit.

Above text originally featured here on the SumOfUs website.

No Sovereignty, No Point

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:55:00 +0000

In yesterday's Irish Times, Fintan O'Toole suggested that with regard to the upcoming referendum on the European fiscal treaty by the Irish people:

The notion of a “sovereign people” exercising that sovereignty in a referendum is a fiction.

Although it may be a particularly grim perspective, it is hard to argue with the premise, given that our rulers as Mr O'Toole calls them do not sit in Dáil Éireann.

Unfortunately, it also adds a sour taste to the recent announcement by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that Ireland plans to sign the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) - a treaty that seeks to promote the highest, and yet most basic standards necessary for people to both enjoy and contribute to a worthwhile and just society.

The Optional Protocol enables individuals to bring complaints based on the treaty before the relevant UN body. However a quick scan of the articles contained within the ICESCR itself quickly gives rise to that sour taste as it is hard to see how, given the current state of the nation, Ireland is able or even willing to take steps towards the achievement of stated goals such as:

- the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,
- the right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work,
- the right of everyone to social security, including social insurance.

The ICESCR is a document full of vision and hope. Unfortunately in Ireland at the moment, there is a distinct lack of vision among the political class or hope among the people.

Happy International Women's Day

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Happy International Women's Day - to celebrate, here's a great video about the Mama Shujaa Wa Chakula competition:

Meanwhile in Ireland, the Anglo: Not our Debt coalition has used this day to showcase the women behind the campaign:

White Paper Review - Public Consultation

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:55:00 +0000

As part of the government review of the White Paper on Irish Aid, a period of public consultation has been launched.

To have your say and influence the future direction of Ireland's aid programme, get involved HERE.

Anglo: Not our Debt

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:04:00 +0000

A new campaign was launched in Ireland today by a group called Debt Justice Action which calls on the government to stop paying the debts of the former Anglo Irish Bank/Irish Nationwide Building Society "as a first step towards renegotiation and writedown of this unjust debt".

Check out their campaign launch video and press release:

To get involved, there is a public meeting at 7pm in the Teachers Club Parnell Square Dublin on Tuesday 24th January.

Unfriend Coal

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:34:00 +0000

Great stuff!

To find out what this is all about, take a look here.

Tackling the Tax Havens

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:07:00 +0000

There's a great website with lots of facts, figures and easy to understand explanations of all the tricky ins and outs of tax and tax havens. Very helpful for anyone working on tax justice issues.

Take a look and watch their quirky little promotional video released this month:

Blog Action Day Vs World Food Day

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:05:00 +0000

Today is Blog Action Day and bloggers around the world are talking about one thing - FOOD.

As we celebrate World Food Day, nearly a billion people on the planet still go to bed hungry every night. Yet this inexcusable and tragic reality that is faced by around 1 in 7 people is made all the more offensive by the fact that the world currently produces enough food. It is not a lack of food that is the problem but rather a broken food system that fails so many.

The world's population is growing and will reach 9 billion by 2050. This will present its own problems with demand for food rising by 70%, but what of the issues facing the world now:

- 40% of US corn crops end up in gas tanks instead of stomachs.

- 4 in 5 people lack access to social protection of any kind.

- The amount of arable land per head has almost halved since 1960.

- Consumers in rich countries may be wasting up to a quarter of the food they buy.

That is why Oxfam launched its GROW campaign earlier this year - to encourage people to share ideas for better ways to grow, share and live together and work towards a future where everyone on the planet always has enough to eat. During the next few days of GROW Week (October 15th - 22nd), we have a chance to take stock and strengthen our commitment to this more hopeful future.

06/10/2011 - Ireland at the UN Human Rights Council

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:16:00 +0000

Via Your Rights. Right Now:

"On 6 October 2011, Ireland will be examined for the first time by the United Nations on our human rights record under the Universal Periodic Review or UPR. Seventeen leading organisations have come together to make sure that the United Nations hears your views about Your Rights. Right Now. Our voices are stronger if we work together. Read our report, and follow the process live from Geneva on this website from 8am (Irish time) on 6 October 2011."

WATCH THE LIVE FEED HERE.

An Audit of Ireland's Debt

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:34:00 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of attending the launch of the results of an audit of Ireland's debt in Buswell's Hotel.

Carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Limerick and led by Dr. Sheila Killian, 'An Audit of Irish Debt' provides a very accessible picture of Ireland's debt. The audit was commissioned by the trade union UNITE and the Irish NGOs Afri and Debt and Development Coalition Ireland. Based on information from the Central Bank, the ECB, the CSO and NTMA as well the financial accounts of various financial institutions, Reuters data, Dáil questions and wikileaks cables; the report is extremely thorough.

Of key importance though is that the report is independent and politically neutral.

It may sound like a dry read but the information within this audit personally affects every citizen in Ireland and is well worth a look.

Referendum Matters

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 07:53:00 +0000

The Dáil resumes today and has an opportunity to provide some much needed focus.

Despite the fact that this session will undoubtedly be extremely busy, the reality is that come the end of October, the public will be called upon to cast their votes in two referendums. If approved, these will:

- allow the pay of judges to be reduced in line with any future reductions in public service pay.
- give Oireachtas committees the power to hold inquiries that can make findings of fact.

Whether or not such issues are uncontroversial does not negate the need for robust analysis and discussion. This has been conspiciuously absent.

The dearth of inspirational candidates in the upcoming Presidential election has fostered a degree of public apathy and is debasing the status of an office that should be able to stake claim to a perennial place within the hearts of this country's citizens. This cannot and should not be allowed to happen to a process that alters the document that defines who we are as a people and a country.

Referendums matter. Admittedly some more so than others. But they all count.

Despite the current difficulties this country faces, the upcoming referendums should be treated with the respect and consideration they deserve and not ignored by the media or our political representatives. Some much needed attention would be very welcome in the coming weeks.

14 Seconds...27,000 Deals...1 Question

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:51:00 +0000

Technology that allows a contract to move from one trader to another 27,000 times in 14 seconds may sound impressive but it begs the question: How does this benefit society?

A recent report from the Robin Hood Tax Campaign, entitled Financial Crisis 2: Rise of the Machines, has highlighted how an activity called High Frequency Trading is effectively making it impossible for regulators to police and intervene in the market when necessary. High Frequency Trading is computer driven trading that uses algorithms to facilitate shares being bought and sold hundreds of times a second and has the unfortunate innate ability to drive up prices and cause market volatility.

Making matters worse is the fact that such trading is increasingly being used for trading commodities, meaning oil and food. Wild volatility in these areas would not only cause havoc in the market, but more importantly will impact directly upon people's lives.

So once again, though impressed with the mathematical equations embedded in such technology, I must ask how this benefits society? And if the answer is that it doesn't, well then it's time to once again reiterate and intensify the call for a financial transaction tax - which would throw some much needed sand in the wheels of these technological trades.

Human Rights Concerns in Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:03:00 +0000

A great summary of the human rights concerns highlighted by key stakeholders in Ireland has been published by the UN in advance of the UN Human Rights Council's examination of Ireland in October 2011.

Some issues demanding attention include:

- The need for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
- The desirability in conducting an analysis of the contribution that the Community & Voluntary sector makes to human rights promotion and protection in Ireland.
- The policing of protestors around the Corrib Gas Project.
- The demand for full civil marriage legislation for same sex couples.
- The lack of recognition of Travellers as an ethnic minority.
- The necessity for greater legislative and policy protections for vulnerable migrant workers.

The above is just a small selection of the great many submissions made by 60 stakeholders in Ireland in advance of the UN Human Rights Council's examination. View the full summary here.

Oxfam's Food Prices Map

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:45:00 +0000

A very cool interactive map has recently been produced by a colleague in Oxfam. Enjoy

MV Saoirse Sabotaged

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:41:00 +0000

MEP for Dublin, Paul Murphy, this morning issued a statement surrounding the supposed act of sabotage directed at the Freedom Flotilla 2:

...The revelation that terrorist-style sabotage of the MV Saoirse caused serious damage to the ship and threatened the loss of life is extremely serious. The evidence pointing towards the Israeli state being guilty is overwhelming. It cannot be a coincidence that two of the boats destined to sail to Gaza have now been sabotaged in the same way, with their propeller shafts damaged.

These attacks match with the Israeli government rhetoric that they would do everything they could to prevent the flotilla from sailing. Those, like Hillary Clinton, who gave an implicit green light to Israeli Defence Forces aggression against the flotilla share responsibility for this sabotage. The sabotage has not only caused tens of thousands of euros of damage to these ships, but also threatened the lives of all the participants aboard. If we had been travelling to Gaza at full speed, an explosion could have been caused that would have sunk the boat and threatened all our lives. An international independent investigation should be launched to fully investigate the sabotage of the ships.

I demand a statement of condemnation of these terror attacks from the Israeli state. If such a statement is not forthcoming, I call on the Irish government to expel the Israeli ambassador from Ireland.

Although I am very disappointed at not being able to sail on the MV Saoirse due to the damage to the ship, this sabotage will not deter me from sailing to Gaza to protest at the continuing siege and virtual imprisonment of the 1.6 million Palestinians living there. I will be participating in the Italian boat as part of the Flotilla and will be setting sail in a few days.

It was a pleasure campaigning alongside the other participants on the MV Saoirse, all of whom made big sacrifices to try to break the blockade to Gaza. The organisers and crew in particular put in a herculean effort to prepare our ship and team and I am very thankful to them. I am deeply disappointed for those that will not be able to travel to Gaza due to this terrorism. However, I am hoping to bring their messages of solidarity to the Palestinian people.

To follow latest updates of the flotilla from Paul Murphy check out paulmurphymep.eu/gaza

Six Voices Project

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:22:00 +0000

B'Tselem has teamed up with the Guardian Newspaper to showcase the voices of five Palestinians and two Israelis who created personal video diaries about their human rights' reality in East Jerusalem.

Calling on supporters to share these video diaries with friends and colleagues, B'Tselem hope to draw attention to the concrete reality in East Jerusalem.

Click here to watch the videos.

GROW

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Tue, 31 May 2011 13:53:00 +0000

Oxfam launches it's new GROW campaign this week. Here's the introductory video that's just been released:

Update: Ireland and the UN Committee Against Torture

noreply@blogger.com (David Moriarty) — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:32:00 +0000

Today (or possibly tomorrow) will see Ireland appear for the first time before the UN Committee Against Torture.

The Committee has the mandate to review and is expected to comment inter alia on Ireland's current deportation system, the number of deaths that have taken place in recent years in Garda custody, the extent of human trafficking in the country and Ireland's complicity in facilitating renditions.

For more information about this monitoring body and Ireland's appearance in particular, check out this blog. Alternatively, to read the Irish delegation's opening statement, visit the committee's schedule page.