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UN’s Universal Periodic Review of Ireland’s human rights record reveals ‘ideological bias’

From The Iona Institute

UN’s Universal Periodic Review of Ireland’s human rights record reveals ‘ideological bias’

October 10, 2011
– THE DRAFT REPORT released today by the UN following Ireland’s
appearance before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last Thursday,
reveals that body’s ‘ideological bias’, according to The Iona Institute.

 The
Iona Institute notes that among the many other recommendations made by
the member-states comprising the Council, are ones urging us to legalise
abortion, to “change the concept of traditional family as enshrined in
the Constitution”, and to “amend Article 37 of the Employment Equality
Act in order to prevent…discrimination against homosexual and
unmarried parents”.

 Reacting
to the release of the draft report, the Director of The Iona Institute,
David Quinn, said: “Once again, a UN body charged with monitoring
Ireland’s implementation of our various human rights obligations has
shown its ideological bias.

 “Nothing
in the UN human rights documents we have signed justifies demands that
Ireland legalise abortion, change the constitutional definition of the
family, or weaken the right of religious organisations to hire staff who
will reflect their ethos.”

 He
continued: “While the Government has rejected the draft report’s
recommendations regarding abortion, we note with concern that the
Government has not rejected out of hand the recommendations made with
regard to the family, or the rights of religious employers.”

 He
concluded: “We hope that when the Government does respond to these
recommendations next year it will defend and uphold the constitutional
definition of the family and marriage and will defend Article 37 of the
Employment Equality Act that has already been upheld by our Supreme
Court because it is necessary to religious  freedom”.

(A new briefing note from The Iona Institute on Ireland, the UN and human rights can be found here [1]).

ENDS