Students gather for new professional diploma in human rights and equality

The Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Emily Logan, today launched a ground-breaking new professional diploma course in human rights and equality.

The new course has been developed in collaboration with the Institute of Public Adminstration (IPA) and has already seen huge demand, with a first intake of more than 50 students.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) have also been proud to support 18 bursaries offered to a mix of public body representatives and to those working in civil society organisations.

Among those undertaking the Professional Diploma are employees from Local Authorities, Government departments, the Courts Service, the Garda Siochána, the Irish Refugee Council, Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, and Threshold.

This morning’s launch at the IPA saw the enrolled students gather for the first time for their year-long course.

Ms Logan said: “We are asking this first group of students to take the skills and the knowledge they learn through this Professional Diploma out of the lecture theatre and directly into their workplaces.

“Public sector bodies today have a duty to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and treatment, and to protect human rights, this ground-breaking training is key in helping bring those duties to life across organisations.”