Irish Council for Civil Liberties

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is Ireland’s leading independent human rights watchdog, which monitors, educates and campaigns in order to secure full enjoyment of human rights for everyone. Founded in 1976, ICCL has played a leading role in some of Ireland’s most successful human rights campaigns, including campaigns to establish an independent Garda Ombudsman Commission, legalise the right to divorce, secure more effective protection of children’s rights, decriminalise homosexuality, and introduce enhanced equality legislation. In spring 2015, together with its partner organisations, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network and Marriage Equality, ICCL led the Yes Equality campaign, the winning campaign in Ireland’s marriage equality referendum. The referendum win makes Ireland the first country in the world in which marriage equality has been introduced after a popular vote. ICCL also lobbies the State to ensure the full implementation of international human rights standards in Ireland.