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The campaign was prompted in part due to criticism of Ireland's abortion regime by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and the Committee Against Torture. The CESCR has criticised what it described as Ireland’s "highly restrictive legislation on abortion and its strict interpretation thereof", and its "criminalization of abortion, including in the cases of rape and incest and of risk to the health of a pregnant woman." It recommended that Ireland take all necessary steps, including a referendum on abortion, to revise its legislation on abortion. It also raised concerns at the impact on women and girls of the law on access to and information about abortion, and how the constitutional protection afforded to the foetus also impacted on maternity care. Abortion is constitutionally permitted only when a woman’s or girl’s life is at 'real and substantial risk', and carries a possible 14-year prison sentence in all other circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/ireland/report-ireland/|title=Ireland 2015/2016|publisher=Amnesty International|accessdate=12 February 2017}}</ref> |
The campaign was prompted in part due to criticism of Ireland's abortion regime by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and the Committee Against Torture. The CESCR has criticised what it described as Ireland’s "highly restrictive legislation on abortion and its strict interpretation thereof", and its "criminalization of abortion, including in the cases of rape and incest and of risk to the health of a pregnant woman." It recommended that Ireland take all necessary steps, including a referendum on abortion, to revise its legislation on abortion. It also raised concerns at the impact on women and girls of the law on access to and information about abortion, and how the constitutional protection afforded to the foetus also impacted on maternity care. Abortion is constitutionally permitted only when a woman’s or girl’s life is at 'real and substantial risk', and carries a possible 14-year prison sentence in all other circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/ireland/report-ireland/|title=Ireland 2015/2016|publisher=Amnesty International|accessdate=12 February 2017}}</ref> |
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It was revealed by [[DC Leaks]] in 2016 that Amnesty received €137,000 in funding from [[George Soros|George Soros']] [[Open Society Foundations]] |
It was revealed by [[DC Leaks]] in 2016 that Amnesty received €137,000 in funding from [[George Soros|George Soros']] [[Open Society Foundations]] to "to work collectively on a campaign to repeal Ireland’s constitutional amendment (i.e. the [[Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|8th Amendment]]) granting equal rights to an implanted embryo as the pregnant woman (referred to as “fetal personhood”). With one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world, a win there could impact other strongly Catholic countries in Europe, such as Poland, and provide much needed proof that change is possible, even in highly conservative places".<ref>{{cite web|title=WOMEN’S RIGHTS PROGRAM 2016-2019 STRATEGY|url=http://dcleaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/soros/strategies/wrp-proposed-2016-2019-strategy.pdf|website=DC Leaks|accessdate=12 February 2017}}</ref> After this became public knowledge Amnesty stated "Amnesty International Ireland applied for and received funding from the Open Society Foundation to part fund our campaign on sexual and reproductive rights. In line with our commitment to high standards of transparency, and as with all areas of our funding, this is publicly reported upon, both to our membership and on our website when we publish our audited accounts."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Phelan|first1=Shane|title=Billionaire Soros funding groups fighting to repeal Irish abortion ban|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/billionaire-soros-funding-groups-fighting-to-repeal-irish-abortion-ban-34980624.html|website=Irish Independent|accessdate=11 February 2017}}</ref> This remains a source of controversy because a foreign foundation is funding a political campaign in Ireland. |
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===Refugees=== |
===Refugees=== |
Revision as of 16:56, 12 February 2017
Type | Non-Governmental Organisation |
---|---|
Location | |
Executive Director | Colm O'Gorman[1] |
Parent organisation | Amnesty International |
Website | Official website |
Amnesty International Ireland is a part of the Amnesty International in Republic of Ireland. The Executive Director is Colm O'Gorman.
Campaigns
Amnesty operate a number of campaigns focusing on human rights issues.
Abortion rights
The She is not a criminal campaign opposes Ireland's abortion law,[2][3] as "Ireland’s Constitution and abortion legislation result in violations of the fundamental human rights of women and girls. Ireland has one of the world’s most restrictive abortion laws. Women and girls cannot legally have an abortion in Ireland unless there is a risk to their life. And even where that is the case, access is difficult."[4]
The campaign was prompted in part due to criticism of Ireland's abortion regime by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and the Committee Against Torture. The CESCR has criticised what it described as Ireland’s "highly restrictive legislation on abortion and its strict interpretation thereof", and its "criminalization of abortion, including in the cases of rape and incest and of risk to the health of a pregnant woman." It recommended that Ireland take all necessary steps, including a referendum on abortion, to revise its legislation on abortion. It also raised concerns at the impact on women and girls of the law on access to and information about abortion, and how the constitutional protection afforded to the foetus also impacted on maternity care. Abortion is constitutionally permitted only when a woman’s or girl’s life is at 'real and substantial risk', and carries a possible 14-year prison sentence in all other circumstances.[5]
It was revealed by DC Leaks in 2016 that Amnesty received €137,000 in funding from George Soros' Open Society Foundations to "to work collectively on a campaign to repeal Ireland’s constitutional amendment (i.e. the 8th Amendment) granting equal rights to an implanted embryo as the pregnant woman (referred to as “fetal personhood”). With one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world, a win there could impact other strongly Catholic countries in Europe, such as Poland, and provide much needed proof that change is possible, even in highly conservative places".[6] After this became public knowledge Amnesty stated "Amnesty International Ireland applied for and received funding from the Open Society Foundation to part fund our campaign on sexual and reproductive rights. In line with our commitment to high standards of transparency, and as with all areas of our funding, this is publicly reported upon, both to our membership and on our website when we publish our audited accounts."[7] This remains a source of controversy because a foreign foundation is funding a political campaign in Ireland.
Refugees
Amnesty's I Welcome Refugees campaign supports refugees and asylum seekers.[8] The campaign promotes resettlement policies by Ireland and the international community and focuses on three main areas:
- Family reunification – this means refugees can join close relatives already living abroad.
- Academic scholarships and study visas, allowing refugees to start or carry on studying.
- Medical visas, to help someone with a serious condition get life-saving treatment.
Other campaigns
- Opposition to torture;[9]
- Opposition to capital punishment;[10]
- A campaign to free Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish citizen imprisoned for over three and a half years in Egypt, without proper trial.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "National Board". Amnesty International Ireland.
- ^ "She Is Not A Criminal". Amnesty International Ireland.
- ^ "Amnesty says Irish abortion laws put women and girls at risk". RTE. 9 June 2015.
- ^ "She is not a criminal: The Impact of Ireland's Abortion Law". Amnesty International. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "Ireland 2015/2016". Amnesty International. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ "WOMEN'S RIGHTS PROGRAM 2016-2019 STRATEGY" (PDF). DC Leaks. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ Phelan, Shane. "Billionaire Soros funding groups fighting to repeal Irish abortion ban". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ "I Welcome Refugees". Amnesty International Ireland.
- ^ "Stop Torture". Amnesty International Ireland.
- ^ "Abolish death penalty". Amnesty International Ireland.
- ^ "Egypt: Free Ibrahim Halawa". Amnesty International Ireland. Retrieved 12 February 2017.