Liz O'Donnell, T.D., marks worldwide campaign of Action against Violence on Women
Minister of State Liz O'Donnell, T.D., marks worldwide campaign of
Action against Violence on Women
25 November 1997
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Ms. Liz O'Donnell T.D., says the Government is anxious to ensure that acts of violence against women are properly recognised at international level as gross violations of human rights,
"The proposal by the Constitutional Review Group to establish a Human Rights Commission in Ireland, is being examined in a numer of contexts within my Department".
Minister O'Donnell was speaking after a meeting with women's organisations as part of the worldwide campaign of "16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women".
"We live supposedly in a pre-dominantly civilised, modern world. Yet millions of women worldwide continue to be subjected to barbaric violence which is reminiscent of a darker age. The Government is anxious to raise awareness and counter gender violence domestically and internationally. I intend pursuing the international aspects as Minister with responsibility for Development and Human Rights".
The Minister said she would be seeking to highlight the issue through the inclusion of women's rights issues in the programme next year to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Minister O'Donnell said violence against women is one of the human rights issues for discussion with United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Mary Robinson, at a meeting in Geneva, on Thursday 27 November.
Referring to the UN Conventions against Torture and the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Minister stated that "One of my first concerns on taking office was to ensure that Ireland would ratify these Conventions". The Minister added that she was hopeful that this could be achieved during 1998, the year of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Top
