Twenty rights-based groups ask Govt to include human rights in Constitutional Convention

Atheist Ireland has joined more than twenty rights-based groups in supporting an open letter, coordinated by Amnesty International Ireland, asking the Government to include all fundamental human rights on the agenda of the proposed Constitutional Convention.

The request was launched today at a breakfast in Buswells Hotel, addressed by Amnesty International Ireland Executive Director Colm O Gorman, Kevin Rafter and Father Peter McVerry. You can find out more about Amnesty International Ireland’s Constitutional Convention campaign here.

Atheist Ireland has also written directly to the Government asking that secularism and human rights be included on the agenda, and asking the Government to consult more widely with the public and civic society groups.

The signatories to the joint letter are:

Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland;
Michael Nugent, Chairperson, Atheist Ireland;
Jack Dunphy, Chairperson, Community Action Network;
Ignazio Saiz, Executive Director, Centre for Economic and Social Rights;
Joyce Loughan, CEO, Focus Ireland;
Kieran Rose, Chair, Gay and Lesbian Equality Network;
Mark Kelly, Director, Irish Council for Civil Liberties;
Liam Herrick, Executive Director, Irish Penal Reform Trust;
Brid O’Brien, Head of Policy and Media, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed;
Natalya Perstova, Project Worker, Mayo Intercultural Action;
Fiona Finn, CEO, NASC;
Maria Joyce, Acting Coordinator, National Traveller Women’s Forum;
Orla O’Connor, Acting CEO, National Women’s Council of Ireland;
Patricia Conboy, Director, Older and Bolder;
Martin Collins, Co-Director, Pavee Point;
Ruairí McKiernan, Founder SpunOut.ie, Member of the Council of State;
Jack O’Connor, General President, SIPTU;
Nat O’Connor, Director, TASC;
Deirdre Garvey, CEO, The Wheel;
Conor O’Mahony, Director of Graduate Studies, Faculty of Law, University College Cork.