Human rights body criticises abortion services and housing in Ireland

Amnesty International also criticised the government for failing to address the housing crisis and the growing number of people forced into homelessness.

A new report by Amnesty International has hit out at the Irish Government for ‘gaps and barriers’ in abortion services.

The human rights group also claimed Ireland has failed to implement key aspects of abortion provision and care since the Repeal the Eighth Amendment in 2018.

The organisation also criticised the government for failing to address the housing crisis and the growing number of people forced into homelessness describing it as a “stain on Ireland’s reputation”.

The ‘State of the World’s Human Rights study’ which is published on Wednesday, assessed human rights in 155 countries and identified “significant failings” in Ireland.

Amnesty International Ireland executive director Stephen Bowen described the homeless crisis here as unacceptable.

“It is appalling that today over 4,000 children are living in emergency homeless accommodation while tens of thousands of young people will never be able to afford a home of their own,” he said.

“This is due to failure after failure by government after government to afford the people of Ireland adequate housing rights protections.

“Housing has been treated as a private investment opportunity, not as a social good and a human right that everyone has a right to enjoy.

“Promises were made by this Government to call a referendum on housing, and a review of housing policy by the Government-commissioned Housing Commission has, so far, failed to be published."

 

Stephen Bowen has said that housing in Ireland has been 'treated as a private investment opportunity' and not as a human right.

He said the Government needs to take bolder and more decisive steps to solve the housing crisis and fulfil its commitment to a referendum.

"We clearly need a constitutional right to housing to redirect government policy,” he said. 

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Mr Bowen also said healthcare is a human right and gaps in abortion law and practice need to be addressed with urgency.

“Too many pregnant women are still having to travel overseas and being stigmatised, and the fact that some health care professionals are refusing to provide a health service on the basis of conscience is unacceptable,” he said. 

The report also looked at refugee and migrant rights in Ireland and how they are being impacted by the housing crisis here.

Overall, the report found globally:

• Powerful governments have cast humanity into an era devoid of effective international rule of law, with civilians in conflicts paying the highest price;
• Rapidly changing artificial intelligence has been left to create fertile ground for racism, discrimination and division in a landmark year for public elections.