Congratulations to Anastasia Crickley who has become the first Irish President of a UN Treaty Body, the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
Anastasia Crickley has been a supporter of the Sheehy Skeffington since its inception, and in 2015 delivered a presentation entitled ‘International Scrutiny – promoting rights, justice, and sustainable development’ .
Anastasia Crickley has challenged and addressed racism throughout her life at local, regional, national and international levels, in direct work with discriminated groups including Travellers and Roma, in academic arenas, and in global and local policy and human rights fora.
She has been Chairperson of the European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism (EUMC) and of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, and served as Personal Representative of the chair in office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). She has a long standing association with the Council of Europe including as a member of the Framework Convention on the protection of National Minorities and is currently vice-president of the International Association of Community Development.
In Ireland, Anastasia was chairperson of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism which led the development and embedding of Ireland’s National Action Plan on Racism. She was a founder member of the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland and of the National Traveller Women’s Forum, chairperson of Pavee Point national Traveller and Roma Centre and of Community Work Ireland.
A long term advocate for equality in education at all levels, the Department of Applied Social Studies at Maynooth University which she led until October 2015 has played a national leadership role in access and participation opportunities for marginalised and minority groups including Travellers.
Welcoming her appointment, Nuala Kelly on behalf of the Sheehy Skeffington School Committee said :
“It is great to know that there is someone on this important committee so dedicated to achieving equality and human rights for all especially ethnic minorities and disadvantaged groups.
We wish her all the best in her challenging work as President of CERD.”