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The mission of the Human Rights Commission is to endeavour to ensure
that the human rights of all people in the State are fully realised
and protected, in law, in policy and in practice.
The Commission will pursue its objectives vigorously and independently.
It will do its best to ensure that Irish law and practice is in
line with the highest international standards, measuring our law
and practice against the standards set out in the Constitution and
in international human rights agreements to which Ireland is a party.
Where the Commission believes human rights are not being adequately
protected, it will say so clearly and strongly, and will actively
seek change in the law, policy or practice concerned.
In carrying out its functions, the Commission will operate in an
independent, fair, open, accessible and accountable manner and will
seek to use to the full the powers conferred upon it.
The Commission will seek to increase awareness of human rights
protections and how to access them, striving to create a strong,
pervasive culture of human rights at all levels within the State.
The Commission will work closely and, where appropriate, collaboratively
with statutory bodies, Government Departments, non-governmental
organisations and all involved in human rights issues.
The Commission will work closely too with other National Human Rights
Commissions, the UN and the Council of Europe to endeavour to ensure
a high standard of human rights protection.
The Commission takes particularly seriously its participation in
the Joint Committee with the  Northern
Ireland Human Rights Commission, as provided for by the Good
Friday Agreement. The Commission will work collaboratively to
strengthen the protection of human rights in both jurisdictions
and work to establish a charter "reflecting and endorsing agreed
measures for the protection of the fundamental rights of everyone
living in the island of Ireland", as proposed by the Agreement.
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