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The "Our Voice, Our Rights" Blog

Blog Archive | 2015

May I go to the courthouse, please?

Posted on February 12, 2015

Generic Image - Irish Flag at Four Courts
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Civil Legal Aid Is Necessary to Truly Uphold ICESCR

Posted on February 04, 2015

Generic Image - Courtroom
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20be%20accessed.%20Currently%2C%20you%20will%20not%20receive%20civil%20legal%20aid%20for%20most%20tribunals%2C%20including%20the%20Social%20Welfare%20Appeals%20Office.%20Cases%20before%20this%20office%20often%20concern%20complicated%20points%20of%20law%2C%20such%20as%20the%20application%20of%20the%20habitual%20residence%20condition%2C%20and%20the%20avenues%20to%20appeal%20are%20unclear%20and%20difficult%20to%20understand.%20One%20TD%20recently%20described%20the%20social%20welfare%20appeal%20system%20as%20a%20%E2%80%98spider%E2%80%99s%20web%E2%80%99%20while%20holding%20up%20a%20complex%20diagram%20of%20the%20different%20routes%20of%20appeal.%20Even%20though%20a%20semi-judicial%20body%20has%20been%20set%20up%2C%20the%20lack%20of%20access%20to%20legal%20representation%20for%20many%20does%20prevent%20people%20from%20accessing%20social%20security.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOf%20course%2C%20in%20an%20ideal%20world%20we%20would%20not%20need%20to%20go%20to%20the%20courts.%20The%20Government%20would%20never%20incorrectly%20deny%20someone%20social%20welfare.%20There%20would%20never%20be%20discrimination.%20Everyone%20would%20have%20perfect%20access%20to%20education%20and%20health%20services.%20Working%20conditions%20would%20always%20be%20fair%20and%20equitable.%20We%20would%20all%20enjoy%20and%20adequate%20standard%20of%20living.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EUnfortunately%20even%20with%20good%20intentions%20and%20the%20will%20to%20realise%20these%20rights%2C%20there%20are%20still%20situations%20where%20a%20person%20may%20be%20denied%20them.%20This%20is%20why%20civil%20legal%20aid%20is%20so%20critical%20in%20any%20society%20which%20professes%20to%20take%20rights%20seriously.%20And%20to%20enforce%20the%20fundamental%20rights%20provided%20for%20under%20the%20Covenant%20on%20Economic%2C%20Social%20and%20Cultural%20Rights%20%E2%80%93%20rights%20to%20which%20our%20state%20has%20committed%20itself%20to%20respect%2C%20protect%20and%20promote%20-%20access%20to%20civil%20legal%20aid%20is%20vital.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%C2%A0%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Ci%3ELiz%20O%E2%80%99Malley%20is%20Legal%20Aid%20Intern%20in%20FLAC.%20Her%20personal%20blog%3C/i%3E%3Ci%20style%3D%22line-height%3A%201.5em%3B%22%3E%C2%A0on%20access%20to%20justice%20and%20politics%20is%20at%20%3Ca%20title%3D%22link%20to%20Liz%27s%20blog%22%20href%3D%22http%3A//www.lizomalley.com%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%3Elizomalley.com%3C/a%3E%3C/i%3E%3C/p%3E]

A life of dignity: Why the UN has 28 questions for the Irish government

Posted on January 22, 2015

Nov 2014 - OVOR
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A better country: Why we must tell the real story on rights

Posted on January 22, 2015

Stock Image - Poverty is a human rights violation
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