Europe fears for human rights in budget aftermath

BUDGET cuts are putting human rights at risk for a range of people including children and the elderly, Europe’s main human rights body has warned.

At a time of economic crisis it is more important than ever to make sure the most vulnerable were protected, and cutting back on this would only cost society more in the long term, the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe said.

The warnings came following an in-depth investigation by their human rights commissioner Thomas Hammarberg, who, during a visit to Ireland in June, spoke to government departments, NGOs, ombudsmen and others.

He urged the Government to unconditionally ban corporal punishment and abolish the common law defence of “reasonable chastisement” adults can use to defend beating children.

This, he said, would be in line with a long-standing UN recommendation to Ireland.

The number of children living in consistent poverty increased by one-third between 2008 and 2009, to almost one in 10.

The report notes that cuts to health and education budgets have hit children, especially those with learning difficulties, those whose first language is not English and Travellers.

Mr Hammarberg recommends that Travellers be recognised as a distinct ethnic group in Ireland, but the Government, in its comments, says the community cannot agree on this and there have to be further consultations.

Mr Hammarberg noted that the ombudsman had a 30% increase in complaints from the public, mainly about social services and health. He recommended that the post should be given constitutional status and the remit widened to cover all publicly funded bodies.

Mr Hammarberg was worried by the revelations of neglect and abuse of older people in care homes and said that in a period of cutbacks it was more important than ever to ensure elderly people did not suffer.

While he welcomed the decision to set up an inter-departmental committee to investigate the Magdalene Laundry abuses, he said that years ago these had been found by the UN to breach the convention against torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

On disabilities, the report highlights a litany of international agreements the Government has either signed up to but not implemented or not yet signed.

He recommends swift changes to the law to introduce a mental capacity bill in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In its response, the Government said the budget for services for people with disability is €1.5 billion and that it suffered cuts of just 1.8%.

Mr Hammarberg was also concerned about the cuts to the bodies charged with fighting discrimination and the abolition of others. Those surviving cannot replace staff and he said they should be exempted from this ban.

The Equality Authority’s budget was cut by over 40% at the start of the recession and its office transferred to Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

The Human Rights Commission’s budget was cut by a quarter; the Combat Poverty Agency was absorbed into the Department of Social Affairs eroding its independence; the Committee on Racism was abolished and the National Women’s Strategy’s budget was almost halved.

Cosc, for the prevention of domestic and gender based violence had cuts of 18%. This compared with an average cut within the Department of Justice of between 2% and 5%.