In May 2015, Ireland will be reviewed by the UN High Commission for Human Rights as to its compliance with its human rights obligations. This process is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Ireland was last reviewed in this process in 2011.
In September, MLRC sent its submission to the UN High Commission for Human Rights for the UN Universal Periodic Review. MLRC’s submission is available here. Among MLRC’s recommendations in the light of this crisis in homelessness, recommended that the right to housing be protected in Irish law, that civil legal aid be extended to cases of eviction, and that legislative and policy measures be put in place to ensure rent supplement and the new Housing Assistance Payment can meet market rent.
MLRC also submitted to the ICCL Your Rights Right Now stakeholder report. This report is available here. ICCL’s report is still open for endorsements. If you would like to endorse ICCL’s report, please contact the ICCL at rightsnow@iccl.ie .
MLRC also submitted to the the Department of Justice, in response to its request for submissions ahead of the UPR, read here. MLRC participated in the consultation held by the Department of Justice on the submissions in November, highlighting the key points of the submission in respect of the vital need for the right to housing and legal aid in cases of eviction from social housing.
About the UPR
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the Human Rights Council. It gives the 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.
The UPR was created through the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council itself. It is a cooperative process which, by October 2011, has reviewed the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States.
Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists. The UPR is one of the key elements of the Council which reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ultimate aim of this mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur. For more information see http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx
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