UN Human Rights Committee challenges Ireland on Travellers’ ethnic status

From the Irish Times

Ireland’s continued denial of Travellers’ ethnic-minority status and the lack of non-denominational schools were challenged by the UN Committee on Human Rights yesterday.

Committee member Victor Manuel Rodriguez-Rescia, from Costa Rica, told the Irish delegation that the committee recognised Irish Travellers as an ethnic minority. “The committee requests the State to take steps to see to it that this group is recognised as an ethnic group. This is not a new request,” he said, pointing out it had also been sought by at least four other international human rights committees.

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