UN Appointment Welcomed By Minister

The election of an Irishwoman to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has been hailed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Anastasia Crickley was elected in New York to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) for a four-year term.

Ms. Crickley was nominated for election by the Irish Government and she will be the first Irish national to serve on the Committee.

CERD is a body of independent experts mandated by the United Nations to monitor the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and Ireland is one of 173 States parties to the Convention.

Welcoming Ms. Crickley's election, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin said: "I am delighted to welcome the election of Anastasia Crickley to the CERD.

"Ms Crickley's election is international recognition of the prominent role she has played throughout her career in tackling issues relating to racism and discrimination, and in the promotion of human rights both in Ireland and abroad. It is also reaffirmation of Ireland’s strong commitment to the United Nations and to human rights.

"I believe Anastasia Crickley will bring a wealth of expertise and practical experience to her new role and will be a very significant asset to the work of the Committee. She will also be a strong independent and impartial voice as required by the Convention," he said.

Ms. Crickley has a distinguished international record in working against racism and discrimination.

She served until very recently as the Inaugural Chair of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency and previously as Chair of the EU Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia.

At a national level, she has been a founding member and chairperson of a number of innovative agencies devoted to promoting the rights of minorities and the marginalised, and to combating racism in Ireland.

She is currently the Head of Department of Applied Social Studies at the National University of Ireland Maynooth. She is also a member of the Council of State.

(BMcC/GK)