Sir, - Richard Greene (May 28th), misunderstands Amnesty International's working methods in relation to domestic issues. While Amnesty sections around the world do not take up individual appeal cases within their own jurisdictions, they engage in intensive lobbying of their own governments and other agencies for the promotion of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Like our counterparts in other countries, the Irish section has lobbied for the ratification of international conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) as well as other human rights instruments.
In order to achieve a positive outcome to these efforts, we have often mobilised the campaigning energy of our own members and supporters as well as the general public to ensure that Irish governments have appreciated the strength of feeling on these issues.
The Irish section has also lobbied Irish governments for the abolition of the death penalty, for the ratification of International Criminal Court and for the enactment and implementation of domestic legislation which would ensure that Ireland would meet its obligations under international standards for the fair treatment of refugees.
As a result of our experience of the political inertia on this latter issue, we became concerned that a similar lack of urgency on the part of the authorities in providing the much-promised initiatives to combat racism might lead to a situation where racism - both direct and indirect - might gain an unwelcome foothold in our society in total contravention of the values and aspirations of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. - Yours, etc.,
Seamas Sheils, Chairperson, Amnesty International Irish Section, Sean MacBride House, Fleet Street, Dublin 2.