6 June 2022
The UN has received a report calling for steps to be taken against potential racial biases in policing, and for an end to the parallel system of justice in operation at the Special Criminal Court. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) submitted a wide-ranging report ahead of the UN Human Rights Committee examination of Ireland in July.
Under the right to life, we highlight the case of George Nkencho who was killed by gardaí in December 2020. The unacceptable delays in the GSOC investigation into his death fall far short of the government’s obligations to conduct a timely investigation. We recommend that the investigation be concluded as a matter of urgency and must include consideration of issues of race and discrimination. We also believe a further inquiry into systemic racism may be necessary and recommend the introduction of anti-racism training in schools.
Under the right to a fair trial, we call for the immediate abolition of the Special Criminal Court. The UN Human Rights Committee has previously told the Government to consider abolishing the Court. Failing that, we recommend the introduction of jury protection across the entire Courts system, and an end to “belief” and secret evidence at the Special Criminal Court.
ICCL also made recommendations under the right to privacy. Even before the latest government announcement on facial recognition technology, ICCL had flagged the dangers of this tech. We do not believe it can ever be used safely.
We also make many recommendations on the forced system of family separation in Ireland, chiefly calling for a wider, rights-based investigation into the entire system.
In the report, we make 221 recommendations. The report is endorsed by 37 organisations.
ICCL’s Head of Legal and Policy, Doireann Ansbro, will attend the review from 4-7 July in Geneva. She said:
“Globally, these shadow reports are a brilliant opportunity for human rights activists to challenge the narrative of governments. Ireland is no different. There are 221 risks to our human rights in Ireland, some of them very serious indeed, and it’s time the government stepped up to fix them”.
ENDS/
Find the full report and a press briefing here: https://www.iccl.ie/news/new-report-on-civil-and-political-rights-in-ireland/
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is Ireland’s oldest independent human rights campaigning organisation. We monitor, educate and campaign to secure human rights for everyone in Ireland.
For comment: Doireann Ansbro (7 June) or Liam Herrick (6 June)
For media queries: sinead.nolan@iccl.ie