Front Line Defenders
Front Line Defenders was established in 2001 in Dublin with the goal of protecting human rights defenders at risk and those who work for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Their HQ is based in Dublin, but they also have office in Belgium, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
They provide grants to strengthen and protect human rights defenders to be able to continue their work. For example, these grants cover legal fees for those who are judicially harassed, medical fees for those who have been attacked, and family assistance for imprisoned human rights defenders. The part of their work is also campaigning and lobbying at the international level for the protection of human rights defenders.
Amnesty International Ireland
Amnesty International Ireland is the Irish branch of Amnesty International, an international human rights organization fighting against human rights violations worldwide. The Irish branch of Amnesty International has around 20.000 supporters campaigning on issues such as refugee rights, ending torture and reproductive rights.
Amnesty International Ireland investigates and exposes facts about human rights violations and campaigns towards governments to ensure they respect international law. They mobilize supporters to campaign for change and supports people in claiming their rights through training and education.
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission national human rights and equality institution. They were established with a purpose to promote and protect human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights in the country.
One of the most significant aspects of their work is providing legal assistance to help people defend their rights, as well as contributing to legal cases that deal with human rights violations. They also work at the policy level to review the effectiveness of human rights and equality laws and cooperate with civil society to monitor and report on human rights and equality on the ground.
FLAC
FLAC is a human rights organization that was established to promote equal access to justice for all. Their vision is ‘’ of a society where everyone can access fair and accountable mechanisms to vindicate their rights’’.
FLAC offers free and confidential legal information and advice to people and helps them access their legal rights. They also carry out research and analysis of human rights law to achieve greater equality, especially for groups who are more marginalized. Last, but certainly not the least, FLAC advocates to bring about the legal change in areas in which laws are discriminatory and unfair.
Nasc
Established as a human rights NGO, Nasc’s mission is to empower migrant communities to realize and fulfil their rights. They work closely with migrants and refugees to advocate for a change within Ireland’s protection and immigration systems.
Nasc’s name derives from the Irish word ‘’link’’. They link migrants and refugees to their right. Their goal is ‘’to realize the rights of all migrants and refugees within Irish society’’, as well as to ensure fairness, access to justice and the protection of human rights.
Afri
A Dublin based NGO, Afri works to promote human rights, peace, justice and environmentalism, with a special focus on the Global South and injustices caused by conflict. Their mission is to influence policy and practice both in Ireland and internationally on human right, global justice, peace, and sustainability issues.
Afri organizes and conducts campaigns and events on issues such as climate change, poverty, war and militarization, democracy, food sovereignty, corporate accountability and natural resources. They also hold workshops and talks attended by grassroots activists, and conduct educational campaigns in schools, colleges and communities on all the issues mentioned above.
Doras
Doras is NGO working to promote the rights of migrants in Ireland. Their vision for Ireland is ‘’a society where equality and respect for the human rights of migrants are social norms’’.
Through promoting and upholding the human rights of migrants, Doras advocates and campaigns at all levels for change in policy and legislation. They also provide legal aid on immigration and asylum issues, direct provision, family reunification, and employment rights to over 1.200 migrants annually. Last, but not least, they work with external stakeholders ‘’to ensure that all those who now call Ireland their home feel valued, recognized and appreciated’’.
Migrants Rights Centre Ireland
Migrants Rights Centre Ireland is a national organization working with migrants and their families in the country to promote empowerment, equality and justice.
One of the core areas of their work is providing support to migrants in minimum wage and unregulated work since these populations are at a higher risk of becoming exploited and poor. They also provide support to victims of trafficking for labor exploitation, as well as to undocumented, unemployed or underemployed migrants. To facilitate their activities, the Migrants Centre Ireland provides access to rights, information, conducts case work, and works with migrants in campaigning.
Irish Refugee Council
Irish Refugee Council is an working with a mission to ‘’ promote and protect the rights of people seeking protection and those recognized as refugees in Ireland.’’
They work with people who fled their countries due to war or conflict and it is no longer safe for them to return. They also work with people who experienced torture, death threats, and other forms of violence because of their religious belief, political stance, sexual identity, for protesting, or for simply being a female or a member of an ethnic minority.
Peace Bridges International Ireland
Peace Bridges International has been internationally promoting non-violent approaches to peacebuilding and protecting human rights defenders since 1981.
The Irish branch of Peace Bridges International was founded in 2014 as a part of country groups across the world, who work to support and strengthen human rights defenders through implementation of various projects. They promote non-violent approaches to conflict resolution and build a culture of human rights that will, in the future, lead to a more just and peaceful world.
