'Sharp fall' in public trust on human rights delivery
There has been a 'sharp fall' in public confidence that human rights are being delivered fairly, according to the latest annual public attitudes poll by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
A recent public attitudes survey conducted by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission reveals a significant decline in confidence that human rights are being fairly delivered in Ireland. Out of 1,205 adults surveyed, 53% felt they had equal opportunities to succeed, a drop from 62% the previous year. Only 26% believed efforts to combat discrimination were effective, compared to 40% in 2025.
Despite this, 84% of respondents emphasized the importance of treating everyone equally regardless of background. The research suggests that while public support for human rights principles remains strong, there is a growing gap between these ideals and their practical implementation. Women were more likely than men to express concerns about discrimination, economic insecurity, and government responses.
Age also played a role, with younger adults less confident in experiencing equality in practice and more likely to have witnessed racism and disability discrimination. The findings highlight a challenge for policymakers and public institutions to bridge the gap between rights in principle and rights in practice, especially among women and younger people.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
