Taking action - Action finally on human rights

THERE is a certain satisfaction to be derived from convincing tardy politicians to take action on human rights issues. 

This happened yesterday when a new parliamentary forum set up to promote and protect human rights, met for the first time following an Irish Examiner revelation that Ireland was eight years late submitting a major report to the UN on discrimination against women.

The UN has repeatedly criticised Ireland’s record on human rights because a string of governments have dragged their feet on issues ranging from the treatment of women and children and the rights of disabled people, to the victims of symphysiotomy, recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group and the rights of transgender people.