International Human Rights: Perspectives from Ireland examines Ireland's engagement with, and influence of, the international human rights regime. International human rights norms are increasingly being taken into account by legislators, courts and public bodies in taking decisions and implementing actions that impact on human rights. Featuring chapters by leading Irish and international academic experts, practitioners and advocates, the book combines theoretical as well as practical analysis and integrates perspectives from a broad range of actors in the human rights field.

The primary focus of this book is on Ireland's engagement to date with the international human rights regime and the manner in which that regime has influenced and is capable of influencing the domestic human rights landscape. Featuring chapters written by leading Irish and international academic experts, practitioners and advocates in the human rights field, the book combines theoretical as well as practical analysis and integrates perspectives from a broad range of actors in the human rights field.

The book 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of Ireland's ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights and the 10th anniversary of the Convention's incorporation into domestic law, by means of the ECHR Act 2003. It contains a wealth of essays and articles by leading experts which examine Ireland's engagement with the European Convention on Human Rights at international level down through the years as well as the extent to which the case law of the European Court of Human Rights has influenced domestic human rights law and administrative action through the vehicle of the 2003 Act. It analyses current Strasbourg jurisprudence on key issues and project its likely implications on law and policy in the Contracting States, with particular reference to Irish domestic law. The book addresses the difficult questions that arise for judges in both jurisdictions following the constitutionalisation of the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights in 2009 and the revised agreement of the EU's accession to the ECHR. The impact of the ECHR in Irish law is a particularly rich subject for analysis, given the strong tradition of rights review by the Irish judiciary in interpreting the fundamental rights guarantees in the Irish Constitution. While the Irish statute is superficially similar to the Human Rights Act in the United Kingdom, the context in which it operates is radically different, given the pre-eminent role of the Irish Constitution in shaping domestic human rights law. As well as outlining the specific domestic context in which the ECHR operates in Ireland, the book also includes comparative insights from the United Kingdom context as to the impact of the Human Rights Act to date in that jurisdiction. Additional themes of the book include the development of ECHR jurisprudence and its effects in the domestic setting on asylum, immigration, criminal justice, children, mental health patients, gender recognition and the limits and potential of the ECHR as regards combating poverty.

"Sixty Years, Thirty Perspectives offers a unique insight into how the values set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) are protected and respected in Ireland, sixty years after its adoption. Thirty contributors, including Niall Crowley, Theo Dorgan, Dr Diarmuid Martin, Emily O'Reilly and Sean Og O hAilpin, reflect on the relevance to Ireland in 2009 of specific articles of the UDHR. The book also includes a photo-essay from one of Ireland's best-known photographers, Derek Speirs." "Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognised human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues." "Nationally, Amnesty International Ireland has 22,000 supporters. We research, campaign and lobby to oppose attacks on human rights and to hold the Irish government accountable for its obligations under international law." --Book Jacket.

With international human rights under challenge, this book represents a comprehensive critique that adds a social policy perspective to recent political and legalistic analysis. Expert contributors draw on local and global examples to review constructs of universal rights and their impact on social policy and human welfare. With thorough analysis of their strengths, weaknesses and enforcement, it sets out their role in domestic and geopolitical affairs. Including a forward by Albie Sachs, this book presents an honest appraisal of both the concepts of international human rights and their realities. It will engage those with an interest in social policy, ethics, politics, international relations, civil society organisations and human rights-based approaches to campaigning and policy development.

This book traverses the disciplines of law, political philosophy and international relations in assessing the normative legitimacy of international human rights regimes.