Local Authorities Booklet

IRISH HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUALITY COMMISSION Free, tailored training on human rights for Local Authorities

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Local Authorities Human Rights Training Since 2010, 465 staff from Local Authorities across the country have participated in human rights training sessions provided by the IHREC, including: Cavan County Council

Leitrim County Council

Clare County Council

Limerick City and County Council

Donegal County Council

Louth County Council

Dublin City Council

Meath County Council

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown

Offaly County Council

County Council

Roscommon County Council

Fingal County Council

Waterford County Council

Kerry County Council

Wexford County Council

Laois County Council

Wicklow County Council

“Informative and enjoyable” Participant Feedback

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94% of participants responded positively that colleagues would benefit from participating in the training.

Training aims 



To provide an introduction to the human rights system that is relevant to Ireland, looking at human rights in Ireland, Europe and at the level of the United Nations.

To raise awareness of the main areas of focus for City and County Councils in relation to human rights.

The training session will include    

Interactive activities, group discussions and case studies.

An introduction to International, European and Irish human rights law.

Exploring how human rights are protected by the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003.

Exploring how the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 is relevant to City and County Council staff.

At the end of the session participants will    

Have an awareness of human rights and human rights principles.

Have an awareness of the human rights system and how it relates to the work of Local Authorities.

Be provided with accessible materials to take away and use in their daily work.

Know where to source further information, training and support.

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Training Sessions Each training session is carefully tailored for Local Authorities and no previous knowledge of human rights is required. Everyone receives a basic introduction to the international human rights framework, including the United Nations treaty bodies and their monitoring systems, and the European regional systems of rights protection. Domestic rights protection is examined through the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights Act. Sessions have a three-part approach: 1. Providing information on human rights framework and mechanisms 2. Promoting a human rights culture through developing values, beliefs and attitudes which uphold this 3. Encouraging action to defend human rights

Thematic Seminar In addition to regular 3 hour training sessions, a one day thematic training course on housing provides an opportunity to drill down on the right to housing. The seminar puts practical meaning in the context of participants’ work and provides tools to use in day-to-day roles. Housing issues raised in these sessions have included (among others):    

Traveller accommodation – how Local Authorities deal with the issues that arise and with cultural considerations.

Anti-social behaviour in social housing.

Dealing with housing lists and budgetary constraints.

Complexity of issues concerning individual cases that sometimes require a multi-agency approach.

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“It was a reminder of the importance of dignity and respect when dealing with the general public.”

“In the absence of policy, you can make any decision. But it doesn’t mean you have the authority to make the wrong decision.”

Participant Feedback*

Participant Feedback

Booking Information Location: At Local Authority premises Date: Autumn and spring dates available Duration: 3 hours, morning or afternoon session Please note:   

Participants need have no previous knowledge of human rights.

This course is aimed at staff in middle and senior management grades.

Participants who complete the Introduction to Human Rights Training will be eligible to attend a Thematic Seminar.

Please register by contacting Gillian Martin, Multimedia and Trainer at gmartin@ihrec.ie telephone 01-858 9601. Further information is available online at: http://www.ihrec.ie/training/training/la.html

*Local Authority Working Group feedback at the International Conference on Human Rights Education and Training for the Civil and Public Sector.

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Places are limited and early booking is advisable. www.ihrec.ie/training

Why Local Authorities?

The State has primary responsibility for upholding human rights. Local Authorities play a key role in ensuring that human rights of everyone are protected through policy and in practice. The IHREC’s training programme aims to support staff to understand their role in respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights in Ireland. These responsibilities are not solely an issue for policy-makers; human rights concerns are relevant from management to front-line staff.

Training staff in human rights helps to ensure that the rights of all staff within the workplace are respected. This can have a positive impact on staff morale and be of tremendous benefit to any organisation. Satisfied employees are likely to be more productive, deliver a higher quality service and stay loyal to the organisation.

Quality service which respects the rights of the service user also results in a better service-user experience.

Knowing about human rights is an essential part of all work in the Civil and Public Service in Ireland. It is the political responsibility of Irish government ministers to steer policy formation, strategy development and executive decision-making in line with international human rights standards. Members of staff throughout the Civil and Public Service in Ireland have a human rights role to play in assisting members of government with policy-making and carrying out policy decisions.

This includes having due regard for human rights in every day work and in dealing with the public.

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Local Authorities role in the implementation of Human Rights The European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 brought the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law in Ireland. The 2003 Act adds a human rights perspective to the legal, policy-making and operational components of Irish Local Authorities and creates a new framework for the representative, regulatory, agency and service provision roles of Local Authorities. Section 3 creates a statutory obligation on every organ of the State to act in compliance with the Convention provisions, an obligation that applies to the actions of Civil and Public Service staff, in so far as they make decisions that may impact on the rights of anyone within the state.

Section 42 of Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 introduces a provision for a human rights and equality duty on public bodies, which requires a public body (such as a Local Authority) to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and treatment, protect human rights of staff and persons to whom services are provided, include human rights and equality in policies, actions and strategic plans and report on the implementation of obligations in annual reports.

“The training makes employees more aware of their responsibilities and could help to make decisions by using human rights criteria…”

Participant Feedback

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Human Rights Training Designed for You The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s human rights training for staff of Local Authorities has been in operation since the establishment of the Human Rights Education and Training Project (HRETP) in 2010. The free, tailored human rights training for Local Authority staff is primarily aimed at middle to senior management grades and is delivered on-site at Local Authority offices.

To date, 465 Local Authority staff have received human rights training and feedback has been very positive overall. Each training session is evaluated by way of a detailed ‘before and after’ two-step evaluation form. The training is externally assessed by an independent evaluator, at all stages of the programme.

Supports The Human Rights Education and Training Project was set-up in March 2010 with philanthropic support as a pilot project to support the Civil and Public Service.

The Project aims to work in partnership with the Civil and Public Service and tailor human rights training to the specific needs of particular Departments and Services.

Two publications, Human Rights Guide for the Civil and Public Service and the European Convention on Human Rights Guide, are aimed specifically at Civil and Public Servants. They can be ordered free of charge or downloaded from our training microsite at: www.ihrc.ie/training/guide Training sessions are delivered via mixed media, and e-learning tools are available to facilitate multiple audiences.

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“Specifically relating course material…gets you thinking!”

Participant Feedback

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Human Rights Education The United Nations World Programme for Human Rights Education, 2010 – 2014, prioritises human rights education and training for higher education, civil servants, law enforcement officials and the military. United Nations Member States have been asked to adopt and implement a comprehensive human rights training policy with these groups. To fulfil part of this mandate, the Human Rights Education and Training Project (HRETP) delivers human rights training to all aspects of the Civil and Public Service, including Local Authorities.

The training methodology used by the HRETP combines the international human rights law framework with good practice in education and training pedagogy and focuses on attitudes and behaviours, using human rights principles. This combination is the core of the Human Rights Education (HRE) model which is sometimes broken down into three steps: 1.

2.

3.

Knowledge and skills; Attitudes, values and principles; Action or transformative behaviour.

The aim of all HRETP training is to eventually achieve these three steps by using a combination of the standards below.

HRE

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Training Topics A variety of human rights topics are covered in every training session. Each session is tailored to the specific audience and depending on the relevant issues, topics covered may include: Organisational culture Gender Dignity and respect Children’s rights Education Housing Torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment

Change management Equality and non-discrimination Vulnerable groups Health Training for trainers Minority rights Power relations Group dynamics…

HRETP Evaluation The HRETP has been externally evaluated since its inception in 2010. The evaluation has indicated successful findings at every stage from direct feedback with the Civil and Public Service, including Training Managers and Senior Managers. Training courses delivered to date have been extremely positive.

Participants have reported that they found the training beneficial and that the courses consistently met or exceeded expectations.

As well as high levels of satisfaction with the training, the evaluation has indicated HRETP methodology to be a significant mechanism for improving organisational culture and encouraging a shift in practice and policy towards principles of transparency, accountability, dignity, respect, and equality.

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Who we are st

November 1 2014 marks the establishment in law of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Our purpose as an independent national human rights and equality institution is to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland. We aim to build a welcoming organisation that nurtures a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding across society.

Our founding legislation provides us with a range of ways to address human rights and equality issues from engagement to enforcement. We aim to bring about change through legal means, policy and legislative advice, awareness and education, and partnerships across society.

The IHREC's Human Rights Education and Training Project was set up in March 2010 with philanthropic support as a pilot project to support the Civil and Public Service.

The Project aims to work in partnership with the Civil and Public Service and tailor human rights training to the specific needs of particular Departments and Services.

Contact Us The IHREC will be delivering training throughout Ireland in 2014 – 2015. To book Local Authority training, email training@ihrec.ie For further information, please visit www.ihrec.ie/training Human Rights Education and Training Project Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission 4th Floor, Jervis House Jervis Street, Dublin 1 Tel: +353 (0)1 8589601

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