An Irishwoman holds the world's most senior human rights post. The Belfast Agreement is a model for other countries. And, to judge by the number of new courses, human rights education is booming.
NUI Galway: The university has had a dedicated centre since 1980. Two months ago a new centre was opened at the college and research and postgraduate studies are being expanded.
For information on courses, from next year, contact Professor Campbell, NUI Galway, at (091) 750348 or the college information office at (091) 524411 ext 3361.
The following list is a selection of other courses and is not intended to be comprehensive:
QUB: The Centre on International and Comparative Human Rights Law, Queen's University, Belfast, established in 1990. Its main teaching activity is a master of laws (LLM) in human rights. Full-time students complete the course in one year.
For information, contact Ms Christine Bell, director of the centre at QUB Law School - phone 0801232 273460.
UCC: The law department provides human rights education in a number of courses, and runs a year-long course devoted entirely to human rights law.
For information, contact Ms Maeve McDonagh, lecturer in human rights law, UCC law faculty, Cork, at (021) 902224.
UCD: Human rights teaching takes place at a number of levels in both the law faculty and in the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in the politics department.
Centres for equality studies and development studies, under Professor Helen O'Neill, also offer courses germane to the field of human rights, while the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy at the university's politics department is run by Dr Attracta Ingram.
The European Master's Programme in human rights and democratisation is the result of collaboration among 15 European universities, of which UCD is one.
For information, contract Dr Attracta Ingram at UCD's politics department or Ms Suzanne Egan, UCD's law faculty - phone (01) 706 7777.
TCD: The school of law offers three optional full-year courses to third and fourth year LLB students interested in human rights - a general course on human rights law, international law, and advanced EU law. An LLM programme initiated in 1995 incorporates a module on European human rights under Ms Rosemary Byrne.
The Centre for Women's Studies also offers an M Phil degree, with relevant human rights among the study areas, and the TCD sociology department offers an M Phil in ethnic and racial studies, run by Ms Ronit Lentin. For information on the law school courses, phone (01) 608 1125 or fax (01) 677 0449. The TCD women's studies centre is at (01) 608 2225 and the sociology department (Ronit Lentin) is at (01) 608 2766.
UL: Human rights components are on offer through international studies and also through a new masters in peace and development studies. For information, contact Professor Dominic Murray - phone (061) 202633.
DCU: The masters programme in international relations includes international trade law and international human rights law. For information, contact Dr Peadar Kirby, director of the MA programme in international relations, Dublin City University, Dublin 9 - phone (01) 704 5000.
The Development Studies Centre, Kimmage Manor, Dublin, does not offer specific courses in human rights but the subject is centrally incorporated into its courses. Phone - (01) 455 4381, fax (01) 456 0089 or email staff@dsckim.iol.ie
The National Committee for Development Education, funded by Irish Aid, was set up four years ago to promote education in Ireland about development issues such as human rights. NCDE supports educators to undertake educational initiatives such as awareness-raising campaigns, training courses, public meetings and workshops, in-service training and the production of books and materials.
NCDE also runs a Resource Centre, open to the public during office hours, which has a wide range of resources . For further information, please contact Barbara Wilson in NCDEs NCDE, 16-20 South Cumberland Street, Dublin 2 - phone (01) 662 0866, E-mail: ncde@tinet.ie, Website: http://homepage.tinet.ie/ncde