Michael O'Flaherty
Encyclopedia
Professor Michael O'Flaherty is an Irish academic human rights lawyer and a member since 2004 of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC), the expert body that oversees compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR). Again nominated by Ireland in 2008, O'Flaherty was re-elected to the HRC with the highest number of votes (136 states) achieved by any candidate. In July 2011 it was reported by the Belfast Telegraph that he would succeed Monica McWilliams
as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
, the statutory national human rights institution for Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Office
subsequently confirmed the appointment, to take effect on 19 September 2011.
A native of Salthill
in Galway, O'Flaherty holds degrees in law from University College Dublin
, in theology and philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome, and in international relations from the University of Amsterdam. Ordained in the 1980s as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Galway
, he has not exercised priestly ministry since 1992; he has not yet completed the process of laicisation
, but has applied for it Qualified as a solicitor
in Ireland, he does not practice in the courts. Since completing his postgraduate studies he has worked mainly in the field of international human rights. He is currently Professor of Applied Human Rights and Co-Director of the Human Rights Law Centre at the University of Nottingham
, England.
Having written extensively on the ICCPR in the 1990s, O'Flaherty joined the United Nations
civil service and held several headquarters and field positions in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR). This included coordination of the OHCHR Asia and the Pacific programmes, field operations in Sierra Leone and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and (2000-02) chairing the UN reference group on human rights and humanitarian action. He served for some years as secretary to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and as a senior researcher in Florence
at the UNICEF child rights research unit, the Innocenti Research Centre. He is a member of the UN Expert Group on Human Rights Indicators, and is an advisor to several intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations, including the European Roma Rights Centre
and the Council of the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation
.
O'Flaherty was 'rapporteur' (principal drafter) for the Human Rights Committee's General Comment on Article 19 of ICCPR
, finally adopted on 21 July 2011 after two years of negotiation. This major re-statement of the international law on freedom of expression emphasises the importance of media freedoms and it sets out the extent to which human rights standards relate to the new media and information platforms.
O'Flaherty also has contributed significantly to the international definition and protection of gay rights: in 2006 he led the drafting of the Yogyakarta Principles
on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976...
(ICCPR). Again nominated by Ireland in 2008, O'Flaherty was re-elected to the HRC with the highest number of votes (136 states) achieved by any candidate. In July 2011 it was reported by the Belfast Telegraph that he would succeed Monica McWilliams
Monica McWilliams
Monica McWilliams is a Northern Ireland academic and former politician. From 2005 to 2011 she served as the second Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission....
as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a non-departmental public body funded through the Northern Ireland Office but operating independently of government as the national human rights institution for Northern Ireland...
, the statutory national human rights institution for Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
subsequently confirmed the appointment, to take effect on 19 September 2011.
A native of Salthill
Salthill
Salthill is a seaside area of Galway city, Ireland. It lies within the townland of Lenaboy and attracts many tourists all year round...
in Galway, O'Flaherty holds degrees in law from University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, in theology and philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome, and in international relations from the University of Amsterdam. Ordained in the 1980s as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Galway
Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam...
, he has not exercised priestly ministry since 1992; he has not yet completed the process of laicisation
Defrocking
To defrock, unfrock, or laicize ministers or priests is to remove their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. This may be due to criminal convictions, disciplinary matters, or disagreements over doctrine or dogma...
, but has applied for it Qualified as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in Ireland, he does not practice in the courts. Since completing his postgraduate studies he has worked mainly in the field of international human rights. He is currently Professor of Applied Human Rights and Co-Director of the Human Rights Law Centre at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, England.
Having written extensively on the ICCPR in the 1990s, O'Flaherty joined the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
civil service and held several headquarters and field positions in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a United Nations agency that works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948...
(OHCHR). This included coordination of the OHCHR Asia and the Pacific programmes, field operations in Sierra Leone and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and (2000-02) chairing the UN reference group on human rights and humanitarian action. He served for some years as secretary to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and as a senior researcher in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
at the UNICEF child rights research unit, the Innocenti Research Centre. He is a member of the UN Expert Group on Human Rights Indicators, and is an advisor to several intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations, including the European Roma Rights Centre
European Roma Rights Centre
The European Roma Rights Centre is an international public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma. The approach of the ERRC involves, in particular, strategic litigation, international advocacy, research and...
and the Council of the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation
European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation
The European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation is an interdisciplinary centre covering the area of human rights education and research formed by 41 universities from all European Union member states...
.
O'Flaherty was 'rapporteur' (principal drafter) for the Human Rights Committee's General Comment on Article 19 of ICCPR
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976...
, finally adopted on 21 July 2011 after two years of negotiation. This major re-statement of the international law on freedom of expression emphasises the importance of media freedoms and it sets out the extent to which human rights standards relate to the new media and information platforms.
O'Flaherty also has contributed significantly to the international definition and protection of gay rights: in 2006 he led the drafting of the Yogyakarta Principles
Yogyakarta Principles
The Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity is a set of principles relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, intended to apply international human rights law standards to address the abuse of the...
on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.