DCU conference shines a light on vulnerability and the accountability of the State

GSOC Chair Justice Mary Ellen Ring very much looks forward to participating in the State Accountability for Vulnerability Conference being held tomorrow, 9 September, at Dublin City University.

The full-day event, which will be opened by Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald, will look at the role and impact of state policy towards vulnerable people and groups in Irish society. The packed and varied programme spans matters including migration and asylum, disability, detention, children and a lot more.

Helping and supporting vulnerable people in upholding their rights is an important element of the Garda Ombudsman’s work, but also, on a personal level, it is subject matter close to our Chairperson’s heart. Her very first job, upon graduating from UCD in the mid-70s, was working for two years at a shelter for homeless girls. She is also a founding member of the Childrens’ Legal Centre, with Fr. Peter McVerry.

This is the second biennial conference of the DCU Socio-Legal Research Centre and has drawn an array of outstanding speakers on matters of law and human rights.

Judge Ring will chair a panel discussion, as will Tanya Ward, Children’s Rights Alliance and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, TD, Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality.

The subject of the discussion that the judge will chair is “Exploring Vulnerability and Accountability before the European Court of Human Rights”. It is set to be very interesting, with inputs from Ann Power-Forde, SC, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights (2008-2015) and Prof Federico Fabbrini, of the Socio-Legal Research Centre at the host university.