Tá an Dr Mary Murphy, léachtóir de chuid Ollscoil Mhá Nuad sa Roinn Socheolaíochta ceapaithe ag an Uachtarán Mícheál D. Ó hUiginn le bheith ag feidhmiú ar an gCoimisiún do Chearta Daonna agus Comhionannais.
Tá an Dr Murphy ar cheann de na 14 ball a ceapaithe don choimisiún, seachtar ban agus seachtar fear a thugann a gcuid saineolais sna réimsí a leanas, dlí fostaíochta, abhcóideacht ar son na míchumais, saoirsí sibhialta, cearta príosúnach, comhionannas inscne, cearta don lucht siúl na n-imirceach.
Dúirt Emily Logan, Príomhchoimisinéir an IHRC, “ Is ócáid thábhachtach í ceapúchán na mball ag an Uachtarán don Choimisiún de Chearta Daonna agus Chiomhionannais a léiríonn an leibhéal nua neamhspleáchais don Choimisiún de Chearta Daonna.”
Arsa Ms Logan , “Ár gcéad tasc ná chun eagraíocht fháiltiúil a thógáil, a fhad agus atá ár mandáid á leanúint go tréan againn le cearta daonna agus comhionannas a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn in Éirinn agus le cultúr measa de chearta daonna ar gach uile dhuine a chothú. Tá sé mar aidhm againn an cultúr a athrú tríd an dlí, comhairle polasaí agus reachtach, feasacht agus oideachas, agus páirtnéireacht a athróidh séirbhisí, ionaid oibre agus sochaí.
Is léachtóir le Polaitíocht agus Sochaí Éireannach in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad í Dr Murphy atá ag obair go príomha sa réimse Socheolaíocht Pholaitiúil. I measc na hoibre atá déanta aici tá domhandú agus stáit leasa; polaitíocht an athdháilte; cumhacht agus sochaí sibhialta; agus slándáil inscne agus sóisialta. Sular thug sí faoin saol acadúil, bhí sí ag obair go lán-aimseartha ar fheachtais cheartais sóisialta agus tá páirt ghníomhach aici go fóill i réimse an cheartas sóisialta, agus í ag labhairt sna meáin le comhionannas a chur chun cinn in Éirinn.
Bunaíodh an Coimisiún de Chearta Daonna faoi reacht in 2000 le cearta daonna uile dhuine in Éirinn a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn. Tá an IHRC faoi shainordú leis na cearta a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn, saoirsí atá geallta faoi Bhunreacht na hÉireann agus faoi chomhaontaithe idirnáisiúnta, conarthaí agus coinbhinsiúin a bhfuil Éire mar bhuíon dóibh.
Maynooth University lecturer appointed Irish Human Rights and Equality Commissioner
President Michael D Higgins has appointed Dr Mary Murphy, lecturer in the Maynooth University Department of Sociology, to serve on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHRC).
Dr Murphy is one of 14 members appointed to the commission, which includes seven men and seven women who bring expertise in areas such as employment law, disability advocacy, civil liberties, prisoners’ rights, gender equality, Travellers' and/or immigrant rights.
Emily Logan, IHRC Chief Commissioner, said, “The appointment of the members of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission by the President is an important event that signifies the new level of independence for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.”
Ms Logan continued, “Our initial task is to build a welcoming organisation, while vigorously pursuing our mandate to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland and nurture a culture of respect for the rights of every person across the whole of society. We aim to bring about a change of culture through legal means, policy and legislative advice, awareness and education, and partnership that can transform services, workplaces and society.”
A lecturer in Irish Politics and Society at Maynooth University, Dr Murphy works primarily in the field of political sociology. Her work has covered globalisation and welfare states; the politics of redistribution; power and civil society; and gender and social security. Prior to academic life she worked full-time on social justice campaigns and continues to be an active advocate for social justice, speaking out in the media to promote equality in Ireland.
The Irish Human Rights Commission was established under statute in 2000 to promote and protect the human rights of everyone in Ireland. The IHRC is mandated to promote and protect the rights, liberties and freedoms guaranteed under the Irish Constitution and under international agreements, treaties and conventions to which Ireland is a party.
Caption: Dr Mary Murphy, lecturer in Irish Politics and Society at Maynooth University, and President of Ireland Michael D Higgins