+34
Ireland's human rights watchdog issued a new policy statement at its annual conference, highlighting a surge in hate incidents that threaten democracy, equality, and social cohesion, and called for a national strategy, accountability, and independent monitoring.
An increasing number of hate and hate-driven incidents in Irelan 'is threatening human rights and equality'. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish TimesRising numbers of hate and hate-driven incidents are threatening democracy and social cohesion and political leaders must “reject hateful narratives”, Ireland’s human rights watchdog has warned.
was launching a new policy statement on hate on Thursday at its annual conference in Dublin’s Croke Park. The statement said an increasing number of hate and hate-driven incidents in Ireland “is threatening human rights and equality, democracy, the rule of law and social cohesion”. It called for a Government national strategy and action plan on hate, with a designated lead department, clear accountability mechanisms and independent monitoring. It was billed as effortless London luxury.
Then tenants found out the rulesHate “is not an inevitable feature of Irish society”, said chief commissioner Liam Herrick.
“It is shaped by the choices we make as a society, by political rhetoric, by how we respond to discrimination, by how our institutions operate and by the environment we allow to develop online. ” “What we are seeing now should concern every one of us,” he said.
“While intolerance and hate has always been a reality for members of minority communities, hate is measurably increasing, and can be seen moving from online spaces into our communities. ” The climate of fear created as a result is undermining people’s ability to participate safely in public life, leading to a weakening of democracy, he said.
“Ireland becoming a more intolerant society is not inevitable. What we need now is leadership to protect human rights, equality and democracy. ” Political parties “must avoid being drawn into adopting anti-rights positions and should reject attempts to legitimise divisive narratives”, he added. The statement said hate was being fuelled by online incitement, misinformation and disinformation, including through amplification of harmful content by online platforms.
Anti-rights actors are exploiting legitimate concerns about issues such as housing and pressure on public services “to promote divisive and hateful narratives”, it said. Measures to tackle this, it recommended, should also include an education system that gives people the knowledge and critical thinking skills to recognise prejudice and challenge harmful narratives.
“The answer cannot be limited to criminal justice measures. We need a sustained, whole-of-society response that tackles the conditions in which hate can flourish and supports the communities experiencing it. ” Other recommendations include a national action plan on hate, with measures to prevent and counter hate during candidate selection processes and election and referendum campaigns, and a code of conduct for public representatives prohibiting hate speech in political discourse.
The full implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2024 and measures concerning online and media regulation are also recommended. Teenagers appear in court without legal representation due to solicitors strikeFour HSE regions to lose power over day-to-day spendingLATEST STORIESIrish Open at Doonbeg: What are the tee times? What TV channel is it on? Is Donald Trump going to be there?
Iran war to end after US midterm elections in November, Donald Trump claims
Hate Crime Human Rights Ireland Democracy National Strategy
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ireland's Teenagers See Sharp Drop in Reading and Math Skills, Matching Global TrendThe latest Pisa rankings reveal a significant decline in reading and math proficiency among Irish teenagers over the past decade, with scores falling to 500 and 480 respectively. This trend is part of a broader global downturn, where average reading scores across OECD countries have dropped by 28 points, indicating a crisis in literacy and cognitive skills exacerbated by digital distractions.
Read more »
US Envoys Return to Kyiv Amid Rising Russian BombardmentU.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner revisited Kyiv after a brief stay, meeting Russian officials and discussing stalled peace efforts as Russian missiles resume attacks on Ukrainian cities with weakened defenses. Talks were deemed "substantive" by both sides, yet no progress on ceasefire or territorial claims. European security advisers joined the meeting, highlighting the continent's role.
Read more »
Further flight disruptions expected after UK air traffic control breakdownDublin Airport warns of possible knock-on effects following dozens of cancellations
Read more »
Tom McKibbin Targets Irish Open Success Amid Rising FormNorthern Irish professional Tom McKibbin, buoyed by recent victories on the DP World Tour and Asian Tour, is preparing to compete at Doonbeg for a chance to leverage his current momentum in the Irish Open. Despite the challenges posed by the course's demanding layout, McKibbin remains confident that his experience and skill set will give him a realistic shot at victory.
Read more »