The UN Committee against Torture (UNCAT) last week issued its Concluding Observations following the first examination of Ireland under the Convention against Torture. Readers of the PILA Bulletin may recall our recent report on the UNCAT's review of Ireland's human rights record in Geneva last month.
The UNCAT Report calls for a "prompt, independent and thorough investigation" into the allegations of torture and degrading treatment of women committed to the Magdalene Laundries. As well as calling for a statutory investigation, the UNCAT Report further recommends that the State "prosecute and punish the perpetrators with penalties commensurate with the gravity of the offences committed, and ensure that all victims obtain redress and have an enforceable right to compensation including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible".
These recommendations arrive in light of a long-running campaign by survivor advocacy group "Justice for Magdalenes" which made a formal submission to the Committee, including four survivor testimonies. Prior to this, the advocacy group had made a submission to the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in June 2010 and as reported previously the IHRC then called on the Government to immediately set up a statutory enquiry into the treatment of women and girls in the "Magdalene Laundries".
Responding to a query on the UNCAT Report, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the Government will consider the details of the Report, as well as the recommendations of the IHRC and the ongoing work being done by the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter. Minister Shatter further welcomed the statement by the religious congregations involved in the running of the laundries that they would co-operate with any future inquiries. He commented that such willingness was "an important step forward" in bringing "greater clarity, understanding, healing and justice" to the circumstances surrounding the laundries. As the Bulletin went to press, the Government announced that there will be a limited investigation into the treatment of women and girls in the Magdalene Laundries. Justice For Magdalenes broadly welcomed the inquiry but have said they are disappointed at a lack of an apology from the Government.
Click here to read the UNCAT Report in full.
Click here to read the press release of the Department of Justice and Equality.
Click here to watch the response of Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dail.
As well as the above recommendations, the UNCAT Report also made concluding observations on a range of areas such as prison conditions, funding for and independence of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the operation of the Garda Ombudsman Commission.
The press releases from NGOs ICCL and IPRT on the UNCAT's Report are available here and here.