The purpose of this report is to promote and support the development of a national human rights education action plan for Ireland. While we recognise and welcome the work that has gone on to promote human rights through education and training, it is clear from our assessment that there are serious gaps in the provision of human rights education across all sectors. A human rights education plan would allow the Government to fulfil its international commitments and to plan to fill the gaps and identify the opportunities that exist to ensure a comprehensive programme of human rights education and training is in place in Ireland. The provision of human rights education and training need not be cost intensive. Indeed, with our limited resources, the Commission has already piloted a human rights training programme for the Civil and Public Service. There have been other excellent pilot projects that have been undertaken, such as Amnesty International’s Lift Off project, which provide successful models in the formal education sector. Ensuring that everyone in Ireland, from school children to senior civil servants, is aware of their rights and the rights of others will help to create a society that values diversity, protects the most vulnerable, and promotes openness, democracy and inclusiveness. We hope that this report will be of assistance in the development of human rights education in Ireland, and stand ready to provide our full support to the implementation of Ireland’s human rights education commitments.
