Edmund Rice International

More than 61 per cent of the world’s population live in countries where religious freedom is not respected, according to a recently released worldwide report. The biennial Religious Freedom in the World report  was published by the international Catholic pastoral charity and pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need International. It was the 14th […]

Rapid globalisation over recent decades has brought increased economic prosperity, but has led to greater marginalisation of many. Driven by profit maximisation in increasingly competitive markets, and without adequate regulatory mechanisms, concerns about human rights violations and environmental impacts are often ignored. Child labour, displacement of indigenous communities from their traditional lands by mining operations, […]

The withdrawal of the United States from the Human Rights Council is deeply regrettable as it undermines progress towards the advancement of global human rights. Sadly the decision is consistent with the Trump administration’s previously demonstrated unwillingness to work with the international community and to prioritise its perceived national self-interest over international agreements. The decision […]

The first formal consultation in relation to the zero draft of the Global Compact on Refugees took place in New York in February. The draft has its origins in the 2016 New York Declaration when all UN member states agreed to work towards the adoption of a global agreement to improve international practice with regard […]

One of the functions of the committee of experts that constitute a UN Treaty Body is to publish their interpretation of the content of the human rights provisions contained in the treaty they monitor. These interpretations are known as general comments and also may include guidance on the information that should be submitted in State […]

At the recent Human Rights Council session, Edmund Rice International made statements as part of the formal adoption of the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Reviews (UPR) of the United Kingdom and South Africa. During the review itself, which took place in May of this year, ERI lobbied member states regarding the recommendations made in […]

Speaking at the opening of the 28th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva the High Commissioner highlighted the intimidation, bullying and reprisals directed towards human rights defenders and NGOs by governments that were increasingly setting a course towards authoritarianism and oppression. He reiterated that adherence to human rights principles were the only way […]

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has expressed concern at the growing threat to important international agreements. He pointed to the refusal of Burundi to be bound by the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and of states such as South Africa and Jordan allowing free movement of the indicted […]

The 2016 report on the state of Religious Freedom in the World was released on November 24th. The report was prepared by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and its release was accompanied by an event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Holy See and […]

To co-incide with the 104th International Labour Conference, the International Catholic Centre in Geneva (CCIG) joined with several other civil society organisations to hold an event entitled “Decent work along the global value chains: A call for responsibility and an opportunity for solidarity”. The word ‘value’ was used instead of ‘supply’ to give greater emphasis […]