Human Rights & Conflict

Human Rights and the Security Sector

Fostering a culture of respect for human rights in the security sector is an essential step in building a sustainable and durable peace.  In 2008, the CRU funded three senior officers from the Timor-Leste National Army (FDTL) to participate in a training course on Human Rights in Peace Support Operations, run by the Permanent Defence Forces in Ireland.

Human Security Network

The Human Security Network is a cross-regional group of countries which maintains dialogue on a range of issues related to human security. As the 2008/9 Chair of the HSN, Ireland has chosen to make Gender Based Violence this year’s priority theme. The Human Rights Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs leads on Ireland’s participation in the HSN, and is cooperating closely with the CRU on the annual Human Security Network Ministerial meeting. The meeting will take place in May 2009, and will focus on the improved implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Human Rights Conference

In February 2009, the Finucane family organised an international human rights conference to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the murder of Pat Finucane. The conference aimed to draw lessons from the experiences of the conflict and post-conflict situation in the North, in particular on the maintenance of human rights in civil conflict situations. It included an exploration of the role of lawyers, how the law can be used to protect individual human rights in civil conflict and post-conflict societies, and the question of collusion.  The CRU provided funding to British Irish Watch, which co-ordinated and managed the conference. More details are available here: http://madden-finucane.com/conference2009february14.pdf