At this point, are we in any way surprised?

On the 23rd of April, Amnesty International published their The State of the World’s Human Rights Report. The 418 page documents “human rights concerns” in 155 different countries. Unsurprisingly, the ‘Right to Housing’, was the first concern listed under the section on Ireland.

The report stated “The crisis of housing availability and affordability worsened, and led to record numbers of people experiencing homelessness, including children.” It pointed out that in November 2023, homelessness rates were 17% higher than the same month in 2022. The report also highlighted that recommended the government is not addressing the issue. Specifically, reporting highlighted the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s calls for the Irish Government to address the root causes of child homelessness, strengthen measures to phase out emergency accommodation schemes, and “significantly increase” the availability of social housing for families.

The report stated that by the end of the year “a review of housing policy by the government-established Housing Commission had still not been published, and a constitutional referendum on housing promised by the government had not been scheduled.”

Other Irish human rights concerns mentioned in that report included refugee’s and migrant’s rights, right to privacy, sexual and reproductive rights, and worker’s rights (specifically sex workers).

Elsewhere on District: Wait…TikTok’s Getting Banned in the U.S.?