The persistence of poverty and social deprivation, amid economic success, is contributing to the denial of basic human rights to thousands of people here, according to the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
The commission, publishing its Strategic Plan 2007 to 2011 yesterday, said among its goals over the next five years would be to use human rights principles to help such groups as lone parents, people with disabilities, people who are homeless, prisoners and immigrants to achieve equality.
Commission president Dr Maurice Manning said human rights issues had the potential to arise "everywhere - in schools, workplaces, in places of worship, in our legislature and in our society. There is no hierarchy of rights."
He said there must be as much emphasis on economic and social rights as there was on civil and political rights.
There was also a call for all legislation to be "human rights-proofed". Commissioner Lia O'Hegarty said "Human rights standards should be reflected in the legislative and policy development process from the earliest stage, from initial draft through the entire enactment process".
The IHRC, established in 2001, is an independent body charged with ensuring the human rights of all people in the State are fully realised and protected in law, policy and practice.
In its second strategy document the commission sets out six strategic goals:
• to promote a culture conscious of human rights;
• to push for having human rights central to the formulation of all policy and legislation;
• to work with the Northern Irish HRC;
• to advocate for a society that values diversity by respecting human rights;
• to anticipate challenges to human rights; and
• to strengthen the commission's ability to do its work.
Acting chief executive Des Hogan referred to the sixth goal when he called for a greater financial commitment to its work from central government.
He told The Irish Times the commission had had no increase in its budget, over and above inflationary increases, in over two years.
Commissioner Suzanne Egan focused on emerging challenges to human rights principles, such as human trafficking.
"Human trafficking is the modern form of slavery," she said.
