In their publication Human Rights: the sustainable future: ten actions for every TD and senator Amnesty International Ireland state:
"Ireland has signed or ratified eight of the nine core United Nations (UN) human rights conventions that flowed from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It has been a strong supporter, including financially, of the UN’s human rights institutions. Irish governments have been to the fore in establishing new international human rights standards and stronger enforcement mechanisms. They have shown a deep commitment to human rights in Ireland’s foreign policy, including through contributing to over 60 UN peace support operations since 1958, and a readiness to be critical of abusive regimes in other countries. Much has been achieved by successive governments to fulfill human rights in Ireland beginning with Bunreacht na hÉireann. Ireland has one of the healthiest, best-educated populations in the world, with levels of personal freedom and security that the majority of the world would envy. Governments have put in place a plethora of independent monitoring mechanisms, and robust human rights watchdogs such as the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and the Irish Human Rights Commission. Unlike many countries, public monies have not been diverted to excessive military expenditure.Yet, there remain glaring gaps between the commitments Ireland has signed up to under international human rights law and our domestic laws, policies and practice..."
Mr O'Gorman will outline the broad range of work conducted by Amnesty International and will illustrate some issues of particular concern in an Irish context, for example Amnesty International Ireland's mental health campaign.