Liz O'Donnell launches One World Week 1998

The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Liz O'Donnell, T.D., launched One World Week 1998 this morning in Iveagh House. One World Week 1998 is the annual week of action and education for young people organised by Development Education For Youth (DEFY). This year's theme is Children's Human Rights. The launch was attended by students from Coolmine Secondary School and St. Peter's College in Dunboyne, as well as representatives of DEFY, the ISPCC, the Girl Guides and other organisations.

Minister O'Donnell said that children have an innate sense of justice and that human rights abuses impact on them in a fundamental way. Problems exist not only in the developing world but also close to home. The Minister referred to her appearance earlier this year in Geneva before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. She said that the searching analysis of our own record on children there strengthened her commitment to extend the public debate here in Ireland. She said that public debate is very important and that this initiative by DEFY and other organisations, which receive funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs, to concentrate on children would play an important part in helping to spread the word. "It will bring information and awareness of human rights issues straight to the children themselves here in Ireland ".

Minister O'Donnell said that the Government is committed to establishing an Ombudsman for Children. While the Minister of State at the Department of Health has primary responsibility, there are ongoing discussions between government Departments on the matter.Top