Irish housing crisis and abortion services highlighted on new Human Rights report

The housing crises in Ireland has been highlighted in an Amnesty International report that has assessed human rights across 155 countries.

Refugee's and Migrant's rights, right to privacy, worker's rights along with freedom of expression and association and the right to a healthy environment were also reported on.

The State of the World's Human Rights reports noted that tens of thousands of young people are locked out of the housing market and over 4000 children are currently living in emergency homeless accommodation.

The report stated:

"The crisis of housing availability and affordability worsened, and led to record numbers of people experiencing homelessness, including children.

"In November, 13,514 people were living in emergency homelessness accommodation. This included 4,105 children, the largest ever number and 17% higher than during the same month in 2022.

"In its Concluding Observations published in February, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child called on the government to address the root causes of homelessness among children, strengthen measures to phase out emergency accommodation schemes and significantly increase the availability of social housing for families.

"By year’s end, 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."

Stephen Bowen, Executive Director of Amnesty International has said the Irish Government needs to take "bolder and more decisive steps" to solve the ongoing housing crises and a referendum on the right to housing needs to be held.

The report also highlighted abortion services in Ireland and has called upon the Government to prioritise the implementation of recommendations in the abortion services review carried out by Barrister Marie O'Shea last year. 

The report said:

"A report of the government’s review of the2018 Health (Regulation of Termination ofPregnancy) Act published in April found concerning gaps in, and barriers to the provision of, appropriate abortion care.

It acknowledged the negative impact of conscience-based refusal by medical professionals to provide abortion care and recommended removing criminal liability for healthcare professionals."

The full report can be accessed here