Professor returned to UN human rights body

An Irish university professor has been selected as a member of a United Nations human rights body after receiving massive support.

Professor Michael O’Flaherty was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Committee after a majority of nations voted for him yesterday.

This will be the Galway native’s second term on the committee which is responsible for assessing whether states are meeting obligations under the UN’s human rights treaty.

Mr O’Flaherty topped the poll with support from 136 out of the 157 participating state parties at the elections in New York.

Foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin extended his congratulations to Mr O’Flaherty on his re-election.

“I warmly congratulate Michael O’Flaherty on his emphatic re-election to the UN Human Rights Committee,” he said.

“This is a great honour for him personally and also for Ireland.

“He has served with great distinction during his first term on the committee and can now make a further valuable contribution.

“Mr. O’ Flaherty will continue to bring to the role a wealth of practical experience and a wide knowledge of human rights issues.

“He will also be an independent and impartial voice as required by the Covenant.”

Mr O’Flaherty became the first ever Irish member of a UN Treaty Monitoring Body when he was first elected four years ago.

He is a professor of Applied Human Rights and co-director of the Human Rights Law Centre at the School of Law at the University of Nottingham.