News and Updates
Upcoming Report Launch: Friday 29th April in UCC
Next Friday 29th April at 9:30 in G01 Brookfield Health Science Complex in UCC, the TEJP will host an event launching our report 'Barriers to Justice for Travellers Seeking to Challenge Discrimination: Mapping Traveller 'Rediscrimination' within the Equality System'.
The free event is happening both in-person and online, we would invite anyone with an interest to register to attend via this link.
This report is based on research carried out by Cork Traveller Women’s Network and the TEJP in collaboration with a group of Traveller women who were asked about the current equality framework in Ireland and options for redress. The majority surveyed reported a deep distrust and perceived ‘exclusion’ from the legal system. In identifying the barriers preventing access to justice, the women noted that core issues involved access to legal representation, costs, and prohibitive barriers in taking cases, alongside unclear avenues to redress.
Presenting the findings of these workshops this report, maps the weaknesses of the current equality system and its inaccessibility for socially marginalised groups. It is argued throughout that these failings, and the testimony of those surveyed, clearly indicate that the current system is blocking Travellers from accessing justice.
In detailing the way the system not only fails to provide redress for Travellers but creates the barriers preventing Travellers from challenging inequality, this report draws attention to the need for significant reform within both the equality and legal aid systems.
The launch of the report is especially timely, given the current reform of the equality framework being considered by Minister Roderic O’Gorman. We are delighted to have the event formally opened by an address from Senator Eileen Flynn, the first Irish Traveller woman Senator. The report will then be formally launched by FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty.
Michael O’Flaherty is Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. Previously, Michael O'Flaherty was an Established Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, Galway. He has served as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Member of the UN Human Rights Committee and head of a number of UN Human Rights Field Operations.
The morning will also include a panel discussion featuring Brigid Carmody of Cork Traveller Women’s Network, Anne Marie Quilligan and CEO of FLAC Eilis Barry.
We would love to see you at the event, in person or online. You can register to attend here.
