Tag Archives: United Nations

WORLD Refugee Day is being celebrated in Ennis this weekend with Clare Immigrant Support Centre organising a gathering to celebrate the day this Sunday, June 19, in Ennis’ Fair Green at 5.30pm. Orla Ní Éilí of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre explains World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. She explains that Sunday’s event is an opportunity to celebrate refugees in our community. “It celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding of refugees life circumstances and to recognize the resilience involved in rebuilding their lives.” World Refugee Day has been marked in Ennis since 1998 with Ms Ní Éilísaying Clare Immigrant Support Centre “is privileged to have a unique role in supporting and working with and for refugees in Clare”. This year, the focus …

THE Government decision to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) has been lauded as a watershed moment for all of Irish society. “Today marks a key moment, not only for people living with a disability, but also for their families, friends and support networks and for Irish society generally. Today the Government reaffirms its commitment to the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities by approving the process to initiate ratification of the Convention” commented Minister of State for Disability Issues, Finian McGrath. The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. “We will shortly bring a resolution to the Dáil that enables us to ratify the CRPD. This will be followed by the depositing of the instrument of amalgamation with the United Nations. …

On this Thursday, Senator John Dolan and members of the disability community will hold a protest outside Leinster House to highlight the Government’s failure to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) – 10 years after a previous government signed the convention on March 30, 2007. In spite of many commitments from successive governments this groundbreaking convention has not been ratified and Ireland is the only EU country not to have done so. Speaking today (Tuesday), Senator Dolan said, “It is very important that people with disabilities are afforded every opportunity to attend this protest on Thursday. I have contacted management and unions at Irish Rail and Bus Éireann urging them to find a way of ensuring that the current dispute does not deny people with disabilities access to public transport on Thursday. For many people with disabilities public transport is their only means of transport and large numbers will want to attend this …

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett has launched ONE’s Fuchsia Appeal 2016. The funds raised will be used by ONE to assist former members of the Defence Forces who have fallen on hard times. Minister for State at Defence Paul Kehoe and the new Dublin City Lord Mayor Brendan Carr also attended today’s (Wednesday)launch at the Defence Forces Monument, Merrion Square in Dublin. ONE has to raise €600,000 annually to continue running its current facilities for former military personnel, with residential centres provided in Dublin, Letterkenny and Athlone – and drop in centres in Dundalk and Limerick. The organisation is currently providing accommodation for up to 40 former Defence Force members at modest cost to the State and will continue to do so with help and support of its members and the public. All fundraisers are volunteers and unpaid, as are the board directors. Since 1994, when ONE built its first residential facility at …

Young people in County Clare are being encouraged to apply to become Ireland’s UN Youth Delegate for 2016/2017. The United Nations Youth Delegate Programme, coordinated in Ireland by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will see two young people between 18 and 25 join Ireland’s delegation to the UN in New York in September and October and February of next year. Valerie Duffy of the NYCI explained, “I would encourage young people from Clare to apply for this amazing opportunity to represent Ireland at the highest international level, and to work on important issues including immigration and the new sustainable development goals. They are part of the first generation that can end extreme poverty and fix climate change. “If you, or a young person you know, think you have what it takes to be Ireland’s next UN Youth Ambassador you have until June 9 to apply.” Those interested can find out more and apply onwww.youth.ie/un_youth_delegate.

A Clare lobby group has taken the dramatic step of seeking the intervention of the United Nations Human Rights’ Council to address alleged injustices affecting psychiatric patients and their relatives. Frustrated by the lack of an adequate response and apparent lack of interest in their concerns and issues, Support Link has lodged a hard-hitting petition with both the Office of the United Nations in Geneva and the European Parliament. Citing three cases involving Clare Mental Health Services and one concerning the Health Service Executive in Dublin, the group is seeking radical changes in legislation to protect patients and their relatives, following alleged breaches of their constitutional and human rights. Accusing the HSE of acting outside the law, it claims relatives have been barred from visiting when they dare to ask questions about their care and treatment. It says legislation needs to come about to protect citizens from unlawful actions, which include breaches of their fundamental and constitutional human rights. Group …