Useful contacts

Below are details of advocacy and human rights organisations in Ireland.  Please click on the name to find out more about what they do.

National Women's Council of Ireland

The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) is the national representative organisation for women and women's groups in Ireland. Its purpose is to achieve women's equality in a society where women and men can participate effectively as citizens in all aspects of social, cultural, economic and political life. It works with its members to determine core priorities and undertakes a broad range of activities at local, national and international levels, such as representing women's issues on a broad range of statutory and non-statutory bodies, commissioning research on key policy areas, developing policy submissions to government and other agencies, building the capacity of women's organisations, undertaking outreach and development projects and providing tools and resources to support women.

Irish Council for International Students

Information for International Students studying in Ireland on supports they can access in Ireland, visa and immigration issues, their employment rights, landlord and tenant issues and more.

Irish Refugee Council

The Irish Refugee Council (IRC) is an independent, non-governmental organisation. It is a membership organisation open to individuals and organisations which support the organisation's aims. The work of the IRC on a national level includes policy, research, legal, networking and information components. The IRC is committed to interculturalism, to facilitating the participation of refugees and asylum seekers at all levels in the organisation and to following the principles of community development.

Nasc

Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, is a non-governmental organisation that seeks to respond to the needs of immigrants in the area of Cork, Ireland. It aims to contribute to an environment of social inclusion for all communities, based on the principles of equality, social justice and human rights. It provides support and self-development for migrants, individually and collectively, and uses its experiences to promote fair, consistent and transparent policies. It offers one-to-one advice and advocacy and group capacity building and works through policy and campaigning to achieve change.

National Youth Council of Ireland 

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is the representative body for national voluntary youth work organisations in Ireland. It uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people and seeks to ensure that all young people are empowered to develop the skills and confidence to fully participate as active citizens in an inclusive society. NYCI gained full social partnership status in 1996. It runs programmes in a number of areas including a Child Protection Unit, Dáil na nÓg, the National Youth Arts Programme and the National Youth Development Education Programme.

Amnesty International Ireland

Amnesty International is an international human rights organisation dedicated to upholding the rights enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other human rights standards. It undertakes campaigns, research and actions focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

Women's Aid

Women's Aid is a leading national organisation working to stop domestic violence abuse against women and children. They listen, believe, and support women experiencing domestic violence and abuse through their 24hr, 7 days a week National Freephone Helpline (1800 341 900) and their Dublin based one-to-one direct services. They work for justice and social change by providing specialist training, raising awareness and lobbying.

Age Action Ireland

Age Action Ireland is a national independent organisation supporting aging and older people. It acts as a network of organisations and individuals including older people and carers of older people, and works to promote better policies and services for older people in society.

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

The Migrants Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) is a national, rights-based voluntary organisation that seeks to contribute to the development of a sustainable, intercultural society which respects and promotes cultural diversity and empowers migrant workers to enjoy their rights and participate fully in all aspects of social, economic cultural and political life in Ireland. It provides advice and information to migrant workers on employment and social rights in Ireland, brings migrant workers together to discuss and take action on issues and it lobbies the government to effect positive change in law and policy.

Volunteer Ireland

Volunteer Ireland promotes voluntary activity by encouraging organisations which involve volunteers to adopt good policy and practice and by acting as a link between such organisations and individuals who wish to undertake meaningful voluntary work. It matches individuals who wish to volunteer with organisations which offer suitable volunteering opportunities.

Pavee Point

Pavee Point is a partnership of Irish Travellers and settled people working together to improve the lives of Irish Travellers and Roma through working towards social justice, solidarity, socio-economic development and human rights. Operating at local, national and international levels, Pavee Point seeks to develop innovative responses to Traveller and Roma issues and needs.

One Family

One Family aims to effect positive change and achieve equality and social inclusion for all one-parent families in Ireland. It achieves this through organising one-parent families nationally, by supporting organisations and others concerned with the issues facing one-parent families, by providing a comprehensive range of professional services to one-parent families, those experiencing crisis pregnancies and those working with one-parent families, and by campaigning with and on behalf of members to effect positive change for one-parent families.

Centre for Independent Living

The primary aim of the Centre for Independent Living (CIL) is to empower and enable people with disabilities to achieve independent living, choice and control over their lives and to achieve full and active participation as equal citizens in society. Its main objectives are to provide support for people with disabilities to live and work in the community, to provide a forum for people with disabilities to explore and realise their human, civil, social, political, and economic rights, and to facilitate the raising of disability issues at a local government, state, european, and international level.

Outhouse

Outhouse is the resource and community centre for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities in Dublin, open seven days a week. Its services include a cafe, meeting rooms, information and referral services, a library, internet access and support to community groups & organisations. Outhouse is also home to a number of other projects provided by other organisations like the Gay Mens Health Project Outreach Service, BelongTo and Greenbow.

Transgender Equality Network Ireland

Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) is a non-profit organisation supporting the trans community in Ireland. TENI seeks to improve the situation and advance the rights and equality of trans people and their families. Their vision is an Ireland where trans people are understood, accepted and respected, and can participate fully in all aspects of Irish society. Ireland remains a place where it can be difficult for trans people to lead safe, healthy and full lives. TENI is dedicated to ending transphobia, including stigma, discrimination and inequality and continues in the struggle for social, political and legal recognition of trans people in Ireland.

Immigrant Council of Ireland

The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) is an independent organisation working with and for immigrants in promoting their rights through information, advocacy and awareness. It provides a free information and legal advice service and produces publications on relevant topics. It also lobbies around immigrant rights issues and works with other organisations to help promote and secure these rights.

Crosscare

Crosscare provide a number of services – Homeless Services, Youth Services, Community & Food and Information and Advocacy. The Crosscare Migrant Project external link also provides information and advocacy support to Irish emigrants and people who have moved to Ireland

Disability Federation of Ireland

The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) is the national umbrella body for organisations of and for people with disabilities, which provide a comprehensive range of services to people with a disability, such as information and support services, education, training, housing, accommodation, respite care, para-medical and other professional services.

Treoir

Treoir is the national federation of statutory and voluntary agencies which provide services for unmarried parents and their children. Its aim is to promote the welfare of and improve the standards of care for unmarried parents and their children. It achieves this through providing an information and referral service, producing relevant publications and resources and promoting research on pertinent topics. It lobbies the government and conducts regular conferences and workshops.

It runs a helpline at 1890 252 084 (from a landline) and 00353 1 6700 120 (from a mobile).

Irish Council for Civil Liberties

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is an independent, non-governmental organisation that works to promote and defend human rights and civil liberties. While its primary focus is campaigning for human rights and civil liberties, it also carries out research and makes submissions on legislation, as well as monitoring state action.

Irish Traveller Movement

The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) is a national network of organisations and individuals working within the Traveller community. The ITM consists of a partnership between Travellers and settled people committed to seeking full equality for Travellers in Irish society. It campaigns around four core issues: Accommodation, Education, Equality and Youth.

Amach! LGBT+

AMACH! LGBT+ Galway aims to reflect equally the diversity within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by encouraging positive participation from the community. We actively advocate to achieve a solid and safe support structure for the LGBT+ community in Galway. We aim to provide awareness, educational and training events and workshops, and endeavour to support and promote a socially inclusive society.