Research & ADVOCACY at the Irish Centre for Human Rights

1. Riding Along With Racism? Research on the Galway Taxi Industry: Employment Opportunities, Patterns of Public Use and User Perceptions
2. Amicus Curiae - Forcible Transfer & International Humanitarian Law
3. Human Rights Through the Lens
4. Crimes Against Humanity in Western Burma: The Situation of the Rohingyas

RIDING ALONG WITH RACISM?

A copy of the report can be downloaded here .

The findings of the report have also attracted considerable medial attention, including from the Irish Times, the Irish Newswhip, Galway Advertiser, Galway Tribune, and Ireland TV3. In addition, multiple internet discussion forums have also emerged with continued discussion on the Report and its findings

The report was carried out by the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, Galway. The Centre launched an investigation in July this year to examine racially based tensions in the taxi industry within the city. The interest of the Irish Centre for Human Rights arises from the nature of the institution itself, part of its mandate being community engagement and contribution, as well as its position as Essential Partner in the Galway City Partnership Anti-Racism Strategy. Its capacity is attested to by an international reputation as a leading institution for human rights research, teaching and advocacy.

Dr. Vinodh Jaichand, Deputy Director of the Centre, led this methodological, evidence-based research into the question of racism within the Galway city taxi industry, focusing on employment opportunities and user practices and perceptions. The results of this research form a concise, but also encompassing report, which can replace untested statements and often reactionary comments with detailed knowledge and a deeper understanding.

The report is addressed immediately to the people, associations and institutions of Galway, but also more widely to the national government and Irish society as a whole. Recommendations are directed to NUI Galway, the Irish Centre for Human Rights itself, the Equality Authority, the media, Galway City, Galway Chamber of Commerce, the Gardai, the Government of Ireland, and the general public.

Dr. Jaichand positions the report within a context where, “Racism has become an increasingly noticeable element in the backdrop to Galway life. Nationally and locally, reports of race-based incidents reflect an increase in the growing anxieties of the general population, due to the inevitable hardships of a recession and intensified competition over jobs and resources. Racial discrimination should never be justified and accommodated because human rights are not a luxury to be observed only when we are a well-off society.”

Protecting and promoting human dignity has been the foundation of work at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway since its inception in 2000. The Centre pursues this work in all contexts, internationally and locally, through research, teaching, advocacy and community engagement. Speaking during the recent tenth anniversary celebrations of the Centre, the Director, Professor William Schabas said that, “This report, which we believe will have real consequences in addressing local tensions in Galway, confirms the contribution that the Irish Centre for Human Rights makes to the city.” He added that, “This is a fundamental issue that should concern us all, one which requires prompt attention to correct the situation.”

For any enquiries please contact Dr. Vinodh Jaichand on +353 (0)86 167 8682, vinodh.jaichandnuigalway.ie.

Amicus Curiae - Forcible Transfer &                                International Humanitarian Law

Since November 2007, the Israeli Military Commander has required Palestinians residing in the West Bank, but whose registered address is in the Gaza Strip, to hold a valid “temporary residence permit” to remain in the West Bank. The procedures for securing such permits, their terms and availability, are unclear and have not been published or promulgated in any official Order. Since 2007, the Military Commander has expelled Palestinian residents who do not hold such permits from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. According to information provided by the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, 34,681 Palestinians who live in the West Bank are listed as having a Gaza Strip address within the Israeli records, and therefore are potentially subject to involuntary relocation to the Gaza Strip.

In response to the policy, HaMoked: the Center for the Defence of the Individual, together with 15 other Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations, filed a joint petition to the Israeli High Court of Justice requesting an order nisi prohibiting the respondents from removing Palestinian residents of the Occupied Territories from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip based on their erroneously registered address in the Israeli held copy of the Palestinian population registry. Dr Noam Lubell and Doctoral Research Fellow, Nathan Derejko drafted an amicus curiae brief on the legal implications of Israel’s policy of involuntary transfer. The opinion was attached to the petition submitted to Israel’s High Court of Justice on the 25 May 2010.

The expert opinion examined the legality of the Israeli policy under international humanitarian law, evaluating whether such action violates the prohibition of individual or mass forcible transfers or deportations of protected persons from occupied territory as codified under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The opinion concluded that any Palestinian present within the West Bank qualifies as a protected person under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Consequently, notwithstanding limited exceptions that were shown to be inapplicable to the current case, any involuntary relocation of Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip is unequivocally prohibited and amounts to a serious violation of Israel's obligations under international law

The Case is currently pending before the Court as HCJ 4019/10, Hamoked, the Centre for the Defence of the Individual v the Military Commander of the West Bank.

An English translation of the petition is available here

A copy of the Amicus Curie brief can be downloaded here

Further information on this case available here

Human Rights through the lens

As part of our 10th Anniversary celebrations, the Irish Centre for Human Rights put together a collection of photography relating to the human rights experiences of staff and students. Entitled  'Human Rights through the Lens', the project  involved the production of a book of photographs taken by alumni in the course of human rights work, activities or experiences that they have been involved in after having graduated from the Centre. The photographs were also printed, mounted and displayed throughout the Centre for the official launch of the project during the 10th Anniversary celebrations.

The books are available to purchase from the Centre and can be viewed online here.  

BURMA – SITUATION OF THE ROHINGYAS IN NORTH ARAKAN STATE 

To read the report click here

To read the press release click here

In August 2008 the Irish Centre for Human Rights received funding from Irish Aid to launch a project on the human rights situation of the Rohingyas/Muslims of Rakhine State in Western Burma/Myanmar. As part of the project a research unit was established at the Irish Centre for Human Rights to carry an open source research and take part in a fact-finding mission and the drafting of a report under the supervision of Prof. William Schabas.

In 2009, Nancie Prudhomme (project manager and researcher) and Joseph Powderly (project researcher) undertook a 4-week fact-finding mission to gather more detailed, first-hand and new information about the situation of the Rohingyas in Western Burma. As part of their mission Nancie and Joseph visited Burma and Thailand. In Thailand, they had meetings on the
situation of the Rohingya "boat people" pushed back to sea at the beginning of 2009 and on the status of the Rohingya issue within Asia generally and more specifically at the ASEAN level.

As part of the fact-finding mission the researchers also spent two weeks in Bangladesh visiting refugee camps and interviewing Rohingya refugees and human rights and humanitarian workers. The researchers were joined in Bangladesh by Mr. John Ralston, Executive Director of the International Institution for Criminal Investigation and former Chief of Investigations at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and for the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry for Darfur. The team interviewed Rohingya victims in and around refugee camps in Bangladesh. The mission in Bangladesh provided detailed information on the causes for flight to Bangladesh and the current situation in Western Burma.

 The report of the Rohingya project was officially launched on June 16 ^th, 2010 by Micheál Martin, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, at Iveagh House.

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