UPR | The Irish experience

The Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO) of Ireland is an independent human rights institution established in 2004 under primary legislation to promote and monitor the rights of children in Ireland. The Ombudsman for Children was appointed by the President of Ireland on the nomination of the Oireachtas (Parliament) and is accountable directly to the Oireachtas.

In October 2011, Ireland was examined by the UN Human Rights Council for the first time as part of its universal periodic review (UPR) process.

The Ombudsman for Children's Office made its submission to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2011 and set out some of the principal concerns in the area of children's rights in Ireland. These included constitutional reform, child protection, enhancing the inspection and monitoring of children's services, child poverty, mental health, youth justice, separated children seeking asylum and the education of children with special needs.

Nearly all of the recommendations made by the OCO were included in the stakeholder compilation document prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in order to inform other States regarding the current situation of human rights in Ireland. In addition, the OCO circulated copies of its UPR submission to member states of the UN Human Rights Council through their Permanent Missions to the UN in Geneva.

During the interactive dialogue between the UN Human Rights Council and the Irish delegation, children's issues raised by the OCO and included in the OHCHR's compilation document featured prominently, including those relating to the extension of the Ombudsman for Children's investigatory remit.

While the State accepted a number of the Human Rights Council's recommendations relevant to children's rights, there were also a range of issues which the State undertook to consider further before replying to the Council. The Ombudsman for Children's Office will continue to monitor progress on these and other issues raised by the UN Human Rights Council during the course of 2012.