Edmund Rice International

In a recent speech to diplomats in Rome, Pope Francis defended “modern multilateral diplomacy” and international institutions against “the resurgence of nationalistic tendencies. While not identifying particular countries, Pope Francis  appeared to be lamenting the mix of jingoism and isolationism that has emerged in the United States and in European nations where populist governments have […]

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 […]

“A right is not a special privilege of the fortunate but it is ingrained in the soul of every institution and in the dignity and worth of every person”. This is an insight I gained through the two weeks long training program conducted in Geneva by the Edmund Rice International. It was a great opportunity […]

It is it is still possible to keep global temperature from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius  above pre-industrial values and limit the devastating impacts of climate change, However, this will require a vast, unprecedented global effort according to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). National pledges submitted to date […]

A number of organizations including Caritas Internationalis and the Global Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children organised a recent side event at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on  migrants and refugees entitled ‘Share the Journey: Promoting the Dignity of Migrants and Refugees’. The event featured a panel led discussion, including the testimonies of […]

Edmund Rice International participated in the New York City March for Our Lives on Saturday, March 24, 2018. Br. Kevin Cawley, Edmund Rice International main representative at United Nations Headquarters in New York, accompanied a small group of Iona students and faculty for the event in NYC.  The Iona delegation joined with several hundred thousand […]

ERI was represented at a recent forum in Rome which looked at how Catholic-inspired organizations, can better protect and promote the human person in a rapidly changing world. Over 100 organisations were represented, ranging from groups focused on peace, immigration, education, development and pro-life issues. They were joined by academics, Vatican officials and observers or […]

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 […]

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has recently reported that concentrations of CO2 gas (a major greenhouse gas contributor to global warming) had surged in 2016 to reach a level not seen for more than 3 million years.. More alarmingly is that the abrupt rate of increase in concentration of the gas in the atmosphere is […]

The recent publication of the results of the Leaving Certificate examinations in Ireland prompts a reflection from Rachel Lucy from the Cork Life Centre. The Cork Life Centre is a voluntary organisation, which continues to receive support from the Christian Brothers, and which offers an alternative learning environment to marginalised young people. The Centre caters […]