Minister McEntee attends Human Rights Forum 2026

Minister McEntee attends Human Rights Forum 2026

• From: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Published on: 18 February 2026
• Last updated on: 18 February 2026

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD attended the Human Rights Forum 2026 in Iveagh House today.

The Human Rights Forum provides an important opportunity for Department officials and Irish civil society to come together to discuss current challenges in the human rights field. The Forum is part of Ireland's campaign for Membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), 2027-2029.

Minister McEntee said: "Ireland is, and will continue to be, a consistent voice and committed partner for human rights.

"Human rights remain at the heart of our foreign policy and our commitment to upholding international human rights is unwavering.

"This is why, in a volatile time for international law, the UN system and human rights, Ireland is stepping forward to take up the responsibility of membership of the Human Rights Council.

"Ireland will continue to be a friend, an advocate and a vigorous voice for human rights, and for those who defend human rights around the world."

Ireland's campaign priorities include the promotion and protection of civil society space and human rights defenders, women's rights and gender equality, the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, the right to food and the rights of persons with disabilities in conflict.

The election for the Human Rights Council will be held in October 2026 and, if elected, the three-year term would begin in January 2027.

The forum, named for Ireland's campaign slogan: "Ireland: A consistent voice and committed partner for human rights", consisted of two panel discussions related to Ireland's potential membership of the HRC. One panel focused on achieving Ireland's international human rights priorities and the second on promoting and protecting civil society space and human rights defenders.

Minister McEntee concluded the forum using her keynote speech to engage with national stakeholders active in human rights and communicate Ireland's core human rights foreign policy priorities.

Speech by Minister McEntee "Consistent and Committed. Ireland's membership of the Human Rights Council" - Iveagh House

Notes

On 4 May 2022, the Government approved the decision for Ireland to seek election to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2027 - 2029 term. The election will take place in October 2026 with the term beginning in January 2027.

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations, based in Geneva, with 47 Member States. It is the primary UN body responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights. While normally a competitive election, for the 2027 - 2029 term, Ireland and Germany are currently the only declared candidates for the two available WEOG (Western European and others) seats and it is likely that both countries will run unopposed.