Kitt hits out at human rights policy

FORMER junior minister Tom Kitt has criticised government human rights policy just days after the Fianna Fáil TD called for Taoiseach Brian Cowen to consider standing down.

Mr Kitt’s criticisms relate to the failure of the Government to ratify a new protocol to the UN’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which many EU states committed to a year ago.

The new Optional Protocol commits governments to protect and deliver on internationally agreed human rights like health and housing. It also allows individuals to complain to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights if their rights under the covenant have been violated.