Amnesty International has called on the Government to take immediate action to address the "endemic" problem of violence against women in Ireland.
In the light of conclusions by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which highlight several areas for improvement in this area, Amnesty wants the Department of Justice to implement the committee's findings.
"Violence against women has been clearly identified by the UN as a serious human rights abuse still endemic in Ireland," said Seán Love, director of Amnesty's Irish section. "This report reinforces the international legal imperative on the Irish Government to take swift and meaningful action to tackle violence against women."
The conclusions, which have just been published by the Department of Justice, acknowledge advancements that have been made in recent years but also make several criticisms.
"The committee is concerned about the prevalence of violence against women and girls, low prosecution and conviction rates of perpetrators, high withdrawal rates of complaints and inadequate funding to organisations that provide support services to victims," the report said.
The committee expressed its particular concern about violence suffered by women from marginalised groups, such as Travellers, asylum seekers, refugees and women with disabilities.
"The committee is also concerned about trafficking in women and girls into Ireland."
The committee also noted that notwithstanding the President, Tánaiste and other female members of the Government and Oireachtas, Ireland still had a low representation of women in elected political structures. It also criticised Ireland's "very restrictive abortion laws" and called for a strengthening of family planning services.
"We welcome the prompt publication of the CEDAW report by Government as it affords an important opportunity to reflect on what needs to be done if Ireland is to take meaningful action to combat violence against women," Mr Love said.
Minister of State for Justice Frank Fahey said: "I am committed, where possible, to see that the recommendations are implemented. In relation to the issue of abortion, I explained to the committee in July that Ireland has held five referenda on three separate occasions on this issue and that there can be few other issues that have been the subject of such detailed national debate."