'Government failed to pass human rights test' - Amnesty
The Irish government failed to measure up to international human rights standards both at home and abroad during 2000, Amnesty International said today.
Its policy on asylum seekers, inadequate police complaints procedures and inaction over Chechnya are amongst the failings highlighted in a new report for the organisation.
In ‘‘Ireland: An Audit of Human Rights Compliance 2000’’, compiled by the human rights group’s Irish section, the state was found to have fallen short on meeting a number of international treaties covering freedom from ill-treatment and the right to a fair trial.
Sean Love, director of the Irish section, said: ‘‘The government has failed to establish a fully independent police complaints procedure and implement effective safeguards to prevent the ill-treatment of prisoners.
‘‘Its legal provisions for asylum seekers also fall seriously short of international law.
‘‘Despite the urgings of Amnesty and other human rights groups during 2000, the Irish government even failed to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture.’’
The organisation recognised the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ human rights unit but Mr Love added: ‘‘For too long the unit has been prevented from functioning effectively due to a lack of financial and human resources and a mandate clearly defining its role and powers.’’
Furthermore, Mr Love said: ‘‘During Ireland’s presidency of the Council of Europe, the government completely failed to use its position to take effective action against the Russian Federation as the situation in Chechnya deteriorated.
‘‘While people were dying in Chechnya, the Irish government could have used its position as president of the committee of ministers in the Council of Europe to take action, but it didn’t.
‘‘We can only hope it doesn’t evade its human rights responsibilities while on the UN Security Council.’’
