Comhlámh has several active member groups. They are made up of Comhlámh members and supporters coming together and organise around campaigning, education, advocacy and change. Below are our current groups. Get in touch if you would like to get involved.
The Trade Justice Group works to raise awareness of how unfair trade rules prevent some of the poorest countries in the world from moving out of poverty. Countries of the global south lose much more through unfair trade rules than they receive in aid from rich countries. The Trade Justice Group believes that trade should be used as a tool for poor countries to develop. For this to happen, global trade rules need to change. The Trade Justice Group campaigns and advocates in favour of this change. Our vision is a world where people have a critical understanding of how trade affects every facet of society and knowing that their choices have an impact leads people to embrace alternatives that work for all people and the planet. We are determined to support people to deepen their understanding of trade and take action to ensure that trade works for people and planet.
The group has spearheaded a number of campaigns in Ireland in response to trade justice issues. One branch of the group is focussed on the CETA trade deal currently being considered by the Dáil. The group have prepared a dedicated information page that you can find here: CETA Resources Page.
The other branch of the group has opened up a new area of work focussing on the issue of Fast Fashion. They recently hosted an online event for Fashion Revolution week that you can watch here.
The two branches of the group meet monthly. If you are interested in joining the group, or finding out more, please contact us at tradejustice@comhlamh.org.
The Access to Medicine Ireland (AMI) is campaigning for a system of medical research and development that delivers the medicines we need at a fair price. Central to the current modelof drug provision is the market monopoly granted to the patent holder of a new drug. This permits the patent holder to charge whatever price the market will bear, which for life saving drugs can be a very high price indeed. Furthermore this model fails to deliver medicines with limited commercial potential such as anti biotics or medicines for diseases like TB the occur predominatly in the global south.
We propose actionable, evidence-based solutions to these problems – based on recommendations from bodies such as the UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines, the WHO and MSF.
We very much welcome new members, who can contact us at accesstomedicinesireland@gmail.com. You can get us on Twitter at @AccessToMedsIRL and Facebook at /accesstomedicinesireland.
The Dympna Meaney Women’s Leadership Development Fund was set up to connect women leaders from the global south with skills building opportunities to strengthen their contribution to global human rights.
Dympna Meaney (1957—1991) was a global solidarity activist based in Dublin, Ireland, whose work was infused by passion for equality and social justice. She inspired and empowered all those who came in contact with her. Her untimely death on 10 December 1991 in a cycle accident in Dublin robbed us of a great champion in the fight for gender equality and human rights.
You can donate to the fund here
Through the Dympna Meaney Women’s Leadership Development Fund, friends and former colleagues, aim to ensure Dympna’s vision for justice and solidarity lives on.We are a micro philanthropic effort and provide bursaries to women leaders from the global south who are working to promote human rights and equality.
Ireland Says Welcome is a membership group sharing news, information and refugee solidarity initiatives in Ireland and across Europe.
Our vision is of a welcoming, inclusive and participatory Ireland for those escaping war, persecution and poverty.
Our mission is:
- To work towards greater awareness and understanding of the experience of refugees, asylum-seekers and vulnerable migrants in Ireland and beyond;
- To strive for a more effective, inclusive and humane policy that ensures the human rights of refugees, asylum-seekers and vulnerable migrants;
- To increase cultural, social and political engagement and participation of new communities in Irish public and social life.
What we do
The Ireland Says Welcome Comhlámh group meet at 7pm on the second Tuesday of every month at Comhlámh’s Dublin office to discuss, support and plan activities and solidarity initiatives on the subject of refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland. The group has formed on a practical and social front, as well as pushing for greater political will and action in addressing refugee, asylum and migrant issues.
The Focus Magazine group produce Ireland’s leading magazine on global development issues. Since 1978, Focus has been making links between the situation in Ireland and in the South, with a view to challenging assumptions, and promoting understanding, interest in and action on development issues among a broad public. You can read the latest issue and back issues for download here.
The Justice For Palestine is dedicated to promoting the rights of the Palestinian people and achieving justice for Palestinian people. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world’s longest-running conflicts and has seen the rights of Palestinians violated in numerous ways. From the fourth generation of Palestinian children being brought up in refugee camps; hundreds of thousands of Palestinians being discriminated against over access to public services, land rights and employment; the siege in Gaza where 1.9 million inhabitants face poverty and psychological violence on a daily basis; and the continuing expansion of Israeli settlements and the continued construction of the apartheid wall in the West Bank.
This oppression is made possible by the support of countries and businesses that continue to back Israel through business and investment. As a group, we want to take a stand against Israel’s brutal occupation. Our member page is here.
