An international human rights monitoring organisation has urged Ireland to introduce new laws to penalise hate speech as a matter of urgency and to ensure that expressions of hate speech are “punishable by effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions”.
The Council of Europe’s anti-racism body – the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) – said such measures are vital because hate speech continues to be widespread throughout the Republic, reports Breaking News.
The ECRI also voiced alarm about “the stark decline” in the mental health of LGBTI+ people and highlighted that so-called conversion practices and medically unnecessary, non-consensual surgeries on intersex children remain legal in Ireland.
It further advised improving access to housing for people seeking or granted international protection, including steps to ensure LGBTI applicants and beneficiaries have access to safe and discrimination-free accommodation, reports Breaking News.
In a new report assessing Ireland’s progress on anti-discrimination laws and protections for marginalised groups, including Travellers and Roma, the ECRI made 15 recommendations, saying both groups still experience significant racism and exclusion.
The ECRI recognised that progress had been achieved since its 2020 report, with notable developments such as a new National Action Plan Against Racism and the drafting of a National LGBTQI+ Inclusion Strategy, reports Breaking News.
It also praised the adoption of key new policies concerning Travellers and Roma.
Specifically, it acknowledged efforts to help school staff promote inclusivity and carry out an anti-bullying action plan, reports Breaking News.
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Despite these improvements, the ECRI said several matters remained concerning.
Among them was the failure to provide sufficient human and financial resources to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission following its expansion of mandates and responsibilities, reducing its overall effectiveness, reports Breaking News.
The body said hate speech, along with political reactions to local events, often led to poorly informed responses that intensified hostility and social division.
It noted that most discriminatory rhetoric was driven by “anti-migrant, anti-Black/African, anti-refugee/asylum seeker sentiments”, reports Breaking News.
The ECRI recommended that Ireland’s authorities clearly define hate speech in law and ensure such acts are “punishable by effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions”.
It also urged the Government to enact legislation explicitly banning racial profiling by gardaí, reports Breaking News.
In addition, the Commission said Irish authorities should increase efforts to encourage public figures—including politicians, as well as religious, business and community leaders—to issue timely and strong condemnations of racist and LGBTI-phobic hate speech, reports Breaking News.
The ECRI said every political party should be encouraged to endorse the Charter of European Political Parties for a Non-Racist Society.
It added that there is still no comprehensive breakdown of hate crime data nor consistent recording across investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentencing, reports Breaking News.
The ECRI said harassment and hate speech against LGBTI people continue in Ireland “with a notable deterioration towards transgender and intersex communities”.
It also observed that many LGBTI individuals feel unsafe expressing their sexual orientation or gender identity in public, reports Breaking News.
The Commission recommended that the Oireachtas introduce a comprehensive bill affirming the right of intersex persons to bodily integrity and prohibiting any non-essential “sex-normalising” surgeries or treatments until the child can participate in the decision based on free and informed consent, reports Breaking News.
The ECRI also expressed concern that Travellers and Roma still face extensive racism and discrimination in education, health, employment, and housing, reports Breaking News.
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