States and maritime actors must take urgent and coordinated action to prevent trafficking in persons in the context of migration at sea, United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking Professor Siobhán Mullally has said.    Professor Siobhán Mullally is the Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway and was appointed Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2020.    In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, Professor Mullally said: “The States’ obligations to prevent trafficking in persons, to identify, assist and protect victims of trafficking, without discrimination, continue to apply at sea. The failure to fulfil these obligations increases risks of trafficking in persons, in particular child victims and other serious violations of international law, including potential violations of the principle of non-refoulement.”    The report is available here     Under international human rights law, the principle of non-refoulement guarantees that no one should be returned to a country where they would face torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other irreparable harm. This principle applies to all migrants at all times, irrespective of migration status.    The Special Rapporteur report addresses the obligations to ensure accountability for trafficking in persons, and access to remedies for victims, recognising difficulties for victims in the context of mixed movements at sea.    Professor Mullally said: “In the midst of often contested jurisdiction and increasing criminalisation of irregular movements, international law, as it applies to protection at sea, sets out a comprehensive range of obligations for maritime actors, including states, non-state actors, commercial vessels and international and regional entities.”    The Special Rapporteur report reflects on the often politicised and punitive responses to mixed movements of refugees and migrants at sea, including restrictions on safe, regular migration; restricted access to asylum; ‘pushbacks’ risking refoulement; arrest and detention upon disembarkation; unjust punishment of victims for offences related to their migration status, and criminalisation of human rights defenders engaged in search and rescue operations. These responses force people to take more dangerous journeys and places them at higher risk of becoming victims of trafficking in persons.    The Special Rapporteur said that protecting victims of trafficking and persons at risk of trafficking must comply with international law, recognising trauma and serious harms.    Recommendations include mechanisms for screening and referral of victims of trafficking at places of disembarkation, providing access and referral pathways to specialised trauma-informed assistance and protection services, health services - including reproductive and sexual health services and psychosocial assistance - and safe accommodation for victims of trafficking.    All necessary measures should be taken to identify, assist and protect child victims of trafficking and children at risk of trafficking, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination, ensuring the best interests of the child as a priority.    Professor Siobhán Mullally was appointed as Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2020, to promote the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms, and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human rights of victims. She is also the Established Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the School of Law, University of Galway. Prior to her appointment as Special Rapporteur, she was a member of the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), elected as President of GRETA from 2016-2018 and as 1st Vice-President from 2014-2018.    The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.    Ends

Tá sé fógartha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go bhfuil an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh ag éirí as a ról mar Uachtarán. Chuir an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh an scéal in iúl d’Údarás na hOllscoile ag cruinniú maidin inniu. Fanfaidh an tUachtarán sa phost go dtí tús na bliana acadúla nua.    Dúirt Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Cathaoirleach Údarás na hOllscoile: “Thar ceann Údarás Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Ollamh Ó hÓgartaigh as a chuid oibre, a chuid éachtaí agus a cheannaireacht agus guím gach rath air don todhchaí.“Stiúraigh an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh an Ollscoil seo trí dhúshláin nach bhfacthas cheana riamh aimsir na paindéime, le teann tuisceana agus comhbhá. Mhair sé agus d’oibrigh sé trí na luachanna meas, oscailteacht, barr feabhais agus inbhuanaitheacht. Chuir sé go mór leis an earnáil, go háirithe ó thaobh tacaíochtaí agus maoiniú do mhic léinn, agus tá sé ag fágáil anois agus seasamh láidir ag an Ollscoil don am atá le teacht.”             Dúirt an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh: "Tá sé socraithe agam éirí as mo ról mar Uachtarán ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar spéiseanna eile. “Tar éis machnamh a dhéanamh air seo go cúramach le scaitheamh, measaim gurb é seo an t-am ceart agus an Ollscoil ag forbairt straitéis nua do 2025-2030; beidh Údarás na hOllscoile nua againn go luath in 2025; agus táimid ag ullmhú don bhliain acadúil nua. “Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil as an tacaíocht agus as an gcineáltas a léiríodh dom le linn mo chuid ama anseo, agus guím gach rath ar ár gcuid mac léinn, alumni, taighdeoirí agus acadóirí agus ar an bhfoireann ghairmiúil a chinntíonn go bhfuil mo alma mater – an institiúid ar leith seo, an áit ar leith seo – i measc na n-ollscoilleanna is fearr san Eoraip agus ar domhan, ollscoil í seo gan aon teorainneacha. Tá ról lárnach ag ollscoileanna sa phobal. Bhí lorg láidir ag an oideachas ar Éirinn. Is tréimhse dhúshlánach é seo don earnáil agus athruithe suntasacha le feiceáil sa rialachas – athruithe a bhfuil fáilte rompu. Tá súil agam sa chomhthéacs seo go bhfeicfimid infheistíocht don chéad ghlúin eile ag teacht i gcrích.” Tá forbairt shuntasach tarlaithe le linn thréimhse an Ollaimh Uí Ógartaigh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i réimsí éagsúla, lena n-áirítear: Tá an ollscoil i measc an 100 ollscoil is fearr san Eoraip, rangaithe de réir QS, agus #1 in Éirinn; i measc na 5 ollscoil is fearr san AE; agus i measc an 50 ollscoil is fearr ar domhan as ár dtionchar ar na Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe, mar atá rangaithe de réir Times Higher Education. Tá Gradam Cré-umha Athena Swan bainte amach faoi dhó as a chéile do chomhionannas inscne, agus tá gradam bainte amach ag 12 scoil, lena n-áirítear Gradam Airgid do Scoil na hInnealtóireachta. Tugadh Polasaí maidir le Foréigean Baile isteach chun tacú go rúnda leo siúd a fhulaingíonn foréigean baile; tugadh Polasaí maidir le Gníomhaíocht Dhearfach isteach chun tacú lenár dtiomantas do thimpeallacht oibre uilechuimsitheach a bheith againn do chách; agus tugadh tionscnamh an Toilithe* Ghníomhaigh isteach. Baineadh an t-ioncam taighde is airde riamh i stair na hollscoile amach in 2023, agus le cúig bliana anuas bhí ár n-ioncam taighde 40% níos airde ná mar a bhí sna cúig bliana roimhe sin. Tá obair tosaithe ar an Leabharlann agus Ionad Foghlama nua; tá dúbailt ar an méid lóistín do mhic léinn atá ar an gcampas; agus tá méadú 22% tagtha ar líon na mac léinn idirnáisiúnta. Táimid rangaithe ag IBEC i measc an 100 fostóir is fearr in Éirinn as ár gcuid oibre ar fholláine.   Nóta beathaisnéise Ceapadh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh ina thríú huachtarán déag ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i mí Eanáir 2018. Bhí sé ina Ollamh le Cuntasaíocht agus ina Dhéan ar Choláiste an Ghnó in COBÁC roimhe seo, áit a raibh sé i gceannas ar na scoileanna seo a leanas de chuid COBÁC: Scoil Ghnó Lochlann Quinn, Scoil Ghnó Iarchéime Michael Smurfit, agus Forbairt Feidhmeannach Smurfit. Bhí cláir COBÁC thar lear in Hong Cong, Singeapór agus Srí Lanca faoina stiúir freisin. Ba i Scoil Iognáid agus i gColáiste Iognáid i nGaillimh a fuair an tOllamh Ó hÓgartaigh a chuid scolaíochta, agus is céimí de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe é, áit ar bhain sé amach céadonóracha agus an chéad áit ina rang. Chuaigh sé i mbun traenála mar Chuntasóir Cairte le Arthur Andersen agus bhain sé céim PhD sa Chuntasaíocht amach in Ollscoil Leeds. Tá iliomad saothar foilsithe aige i réimse na cuntasaíochta agus chaith sé tréimhse ag obair i bpoist acadúla in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, COBÁC agus in Ollscoil Victoria, in Wellington, an Nua-Shéalainn. Chaith sé tréimhse ar scoláireacht Fulbright in Ollscoil Northeastern (Bostún, SAM). Bhí sé ina Chathaoirleach ar an gCoiste Iniúchóireachta sa Roinn Cumarsáide, Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha agus ina bhall de Choiste Iniúchóireachta na Roinne Airgeadais. Bhí sé ina Stiúrthóir Neamhspleách Neamhfheidhmiúcháin ar Avolon freisin, ceann de na cuideachtaí léasaithe eitleán is mó ar domhan áit a raibh sé ina chathaoirleach ar an gCoiste Iniúchta chomh maith. Bhí sé ina bhall de bhord neamhreachtúil an Ghrúpa Ospidéal Saolta agus ina Chathaoirleach ar Choiste Straitéise an Ghrúpa. Mar Uachtarán, tá cúram déanta aige dá réimsí taighde i gcónaí leis an gcion a rinne sé do stair chleachtas na cuntasaíochta airgeadais in The Routledge Companion to Accounting History (An Dara hEagrán, Bealtaine 2020). D’fhoilsigh sé freisin i réimse na ceannaireachta acadúla lena n-áirítear caibidil dar teideal ‘Of things being various’ in Thriving in Academic Leadership (2023). Tá sé ina bhall de Bhord Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann arna cheapadh ag an Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, agus ina bhall de Chomhairle na hInstitiúide Taighde Eacnamaíochta agus Sóisialta (ESRI). Tá sé ina chathaoirleach ar Choistí Iniúchóireachta agus Riosca an dá eagraíocht. Críoch

University of Galway has announced that Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh is to step down from his role as President. Professor Ó hÓgartaigh notified Údarás na hOllscoile – the University’s Governing Authority at its scheduled meeting this morning. The outgoing President will remain in the post until the start of the new academic year.   Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Chair of the University’s Governing Authority, said: “On behalf of the University of Galway Governing Authority, I would like to thank Professor Ó hÓgartaigh for his work, his achievements and his leadership and wish him the best for the future. “Professor Ó hÓgartaigh steered this University through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, with a considerate and caring approach. He has lived and worked through the values of respect, openness, excellence and sustainability. He has been a strong advocate for the sector, in particular for student supports and funding, and he departs at a time when the University is positioned strongly for the future.” Professor Ó hÓgartaigh said: “I have decided to step down from my role as President of Ollscoil na Gaillimhe/University of Galway to pursue other interests. “After long and careful consideration, I have concluded that this is the right time as our University is developing a new strategy for 2025-2030; we will have a new Governing Authority in early 2025; and we are preparing for a new academic year. “I want to express thanks for the support and kindness given to me in my time here, and I wish continued success to our students, alumni, researchers and academics and the professional staff who keep my alma mater - this distinct institution, of this place and from this place - among the best in Europe and the world, a university with no gates. Universities play a profound role in society. Education has had a transformative influence on Ireland. It is a challenging time for the sector with significant and welcome changes to be seen in governance. I hope in this context that we see the vision of investment for the next generation come to fruition.” Professor Ó hÓgartaigh’s tenure at University of Galway has been marked with significant development in a number of areas, including: A top 100 university in Europe, as ranked by QS, and #1 in Ireland; top 5 in the EU; and top 50 in the world for our impact on the Sustainable Development Goals, as ranked by Times Higher Education. Securing a Bronze Athena Swan award twice in a row for gender equality, as well as 12 schools receiving awards, including a Silver for the School of Engineering. The introduction of a Domestic Violence Policy to confidentially support those who suffer domestic violence; a Positive Action policy to support our commitment to having an inclusive working environment for all; and the Active* Consent initiative. Securing the highest research income in the history of the university in 2023, and in the last five years our research income was 40% higher than in the five years prior to that. Commencing development of a new Library and Learning Commons; a doubling of on-campus student accommodation; and a 22% growth in international student numbers. Being ranked by IBEC in the Top100 employers in Ireland for our work on wellbeing. Bio Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh became the 13th president of Ollscoil na Gaillimhe - University of Galway in January 2018. Previously, he was Professor of Accounting and Dean of Business at UCD, leading its schools in Dublin (UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and UCD Smurfit Executive Development) and its overseas programmes in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Having attended Scoil Iognáid and Coláiste Iognáid in Galway, Professor Ó hÓgartaigh was awarded a first class honours, first in class graduate, at what was then University College Galway. He trained as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen and has a PhD in Accounting from the University of Leeds. He has been published widely in the accounting field and has previously held academic positions at Dublin City University, UCD and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. A former Fulbright scholar at Northeastern University (Boston, USA), he has served as Audit Committee Chair at the then Department of Marine, Communications and Natural Resources and as a member of the Audit Committee at the Department of Finance. He has also served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Avolon, one of the world’s largest aircraft leasing companies where he also chaired its Audit Committee. He was a member of the non-statutory board of the Saolta Hospital Group and Chair of its Strategy Committee. As President, he has maintained his research interests with his contribution on the history of financial accounting practice in The Routledge Companion to Accounting History (2nd Edition, May 2020). He has also published on academic leadership including a chapter ‘Of things being various’ in Thriving in Academic Leadership (2023). He is a board member of the National Library of Ireland on the appointment of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and a member of the Council of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). He chairs the Audit & Risk Committees of both. Ends