ABSTRACT
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Right is of increasing importance in promoting compliance with human rights in Ireland as elsewhere. The legislative intent is to enhance and update laws relating to the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, including new offences relating to child sexual grooming and new and strengthened offences to tackle child pornography. Ireland accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights in 1953 and is accountable to international committees for progressing the implementation of various convention provisions. In Ireland, an unusually large proportion of national health, education and social care infrastructure is owned, managed and/or staffed by religious organisations. Homosexuality continued to be a criminal offence in Ireland until 1993, but legitimating same-sex relationships has taken a while longer. In Ireland, unlike in the UK, medical treatment or surgical intervention for gender dysphoria is not required in order to legally qualify for a Gender Recognition Certificate.
