Minister Flanagan Marks International Human Rights Day, 10 December, by announcing the next stage in the development of Ireland’s National Plan on Business and Human Rights
The Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Mr. Charles Flanagan, T.D., today marked International Human Rights Day by announcing the next stage in the development of Ireland’s National Plan on Business and Human Rights - the publication of the working outline of the Plan.
Ireland’s National Plan on Business and Human Rights, when completed, will implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, a globally recognised framework which outlines the roles of states and businesses in protecting human rights, which was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011.
In making the announcement, Minister Flanagan said:
“International Human Rights Day marks the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is an annual reminder of the progress which we have made – and also, sadly, of the reality that violations and abuses of human rights continue to be a reality suffered in all regions of the world.
“This day offers us an opportunity to re-state Ireland’s long-standing and deeply-held commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.
“We are doing so in a very concrete way this year as we take the next step in developing a National Plan on Business and Human Rights by publishing today on my Department’s website the working outline of Ireland’s Plan.
“We have already benefited from consultation with civil society and business in the process to date, and I know that this will continue as we work towards completing our national plan”
Interested parties are invited to submit views on the working outline of Ireland’s National Plan on Business and Human Rights by e-mail to the Human Rights Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at businesshr@dfa.ie before 29 January 2016.
Submissions may form part of the Department’s permanent records and may be releasable under the Freedom of Information Act. By submitting information electronically, parties accept that any personal or sensitive data may not be fully secure.
Parties may alternatively send their submissions by post to:
Colin Wrafter
Director, Human Rights Unit
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
80 St Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2
Ireland
ENDS
10 December 2015
Notes for Editors:
The Government decided on 24 June 2014 that Ireland would develop a national plan for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
An inter-departmental working group was formed consisting of focal points from each Government Department and state agencies and, following consultations with civil society and business, a working outline of Ireland’s Plan has now been prepared.
The working outline of Ireland’s Plan will be published today, 10 December, on the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade website, www.dfa.ie
The National Plan on Business and Human Rights will build on the achievements of Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility which was published by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in April 2014.
The National Plan will seek to set out the current state of play in relation to actions which can be deemed to already assist in the implementation of the UNGPs and set out actions which can be taken over a 2/3 year period in order to further implement the UNGPs.