Thug an tUachtarán Mícheál D. Ó hUiginn cuairt ar champas Ollscoil Mhá Nuad inniu chun Seachtain Cheartas Sóisialta 2014 a sheoladh, ag spreagadh mac léinn le húsáid a bhaint as a dtaithí ollscoile mar dheis le foghlaim agus tabhairt faoi éagóracha sóisialta timpeall an domhain.
Is iarracht chomhoibríoch í Seachtain Cheartas Sóisialta idir mic leinn, foireann agus gníomhaireachtaí neamhbhrabúis le feasacht a ardú faoi dhúshláin dhomanda, cheartas sóisialta a chur chun cinn agus dúshláin a chur roimh dhaoine chun athrú dearfach a dhéanamh don domhan thart timpeall orthu.
Mar chuid de Sheachtain Cheartas Sóisialta, tá clár ilghnéitheach curtha le chéile ag an Maynooth Social Justice Project de léachtaí, ceardlanna, taispeántas grianghrafadóireachta, scannáin agus ceiliúradh idirchreideamh chun oideachas a chur ar mhic léinn agus ar fhoireann faoi chuid de na dúshláin is mó sa domhan agus chun aird a tharraingt ar na hiarrachtaí atá á ndéanamh ag daoine aonair agus eagrachtaí timpeall na cruinne chun réitigh a fhorbairt.
I measc na dtéamaí a dhéanfar plé orthu tá, gainneáil ar dhaoine, athrú aeráide, bochtanas páistí, coimhlint sa Mheán-Oirthear agus meabharshláinte. Beidh ionadaithe ó ghníomhaireachtaí neamhbhrabúis ar nós Trócaire, Amnesty International agus the International Justice Mission i láthair chun comhairle a chur ar mhic léinn faoi dheiseanna oibrí deonach thar lear.
Ina chuid cainte ag seoladh Sheachtain Cheartais Sóisialta, dúirt an tUachtarán Mícheál D. Ó hUiginn go raibh freagracht mhoráltachta ar Éirinn a chinntiú go léiríonn á cuid dlithe imirce meas orthu siúd a easáitíodh. "Baineann na daoine a thagann go hÉirinn atá ag teitheadh ó chogadh agus ghéarleanúint, na hoibrithe agus na teaghlaigh atá ag éalú ó bhochtanas leis na príomhcheisteanna domhanda atá le dul i ngleic leo agus inár ról sa phobal idirnáisiúnta tá dualgas moráltachta ar Éirinn páirt a ghlacadh inár gcuid dlithe, polasaithe agus cleachtais ar leibhéal náisiúnta," a dúirt sé.
Ag labhairt ag an seoladh, dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil Mhá Nuad An tOllamh Philip Nolan: “Is mór an onóir dúinn an tUacharán Uí Uiginn a bheith anseo chun Seachtain Cheartas Sóisialta Ollscoil Mhá Nuad a sheoladh. Tá fíorthiomantas léirithe ag Uachtarán Uí Uiginn do cheartas sóisialta agus do chabhrú le daoine eile ina shaol gairmiúil agus aithníonn sé an teachtaireacht tábhachtach atá á chur chun cinn ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad den fhreagracht shóisialta. Is eilimint lárnach í an cheartas sóisialta d’éiteas Ollscoil Mhá Nuad agus beidh sí ina dlúthchuid den fhís den oideachas amach anseo.”
“Tá freagracht orainn smaointeoireacht chriticiúil na mac léinn nua a chothú sa seomra ranga agus lasmuigh den seomra ranga agus chun oiliúint a chur orthu ar na buanna atá riachtanach le bheith inasaoránaigh fhreagracha agus gníomhach go sóisialta. Is eiseamláir iontach den tiomantas í an tSeachtain Cheartas Sóisialta,” a dúirt sé.
Chaith an tUachtarán Uí Uiginn seal ag féachaint ar an gcartlann den údar cailiúil ilteangach Pearse Hutchinson, file agus gníomhaire atá lonnaithe i leabharlann Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. Tríd a shaol ar fad, bhain Hutchinson úsáid as a chuid scribhinní chun cur le cásanna cheartas sóisialta ina measc, an ghluaiseacht frith-apartheid, gluaiseacht na gcearta sibhialta i dTuaisceart Éireann, iarracht na gCatalónach chun neamhspeacháis, mí-úsaid na gcearta daonna i Meiriceá Theas agus an cheardchumannachas in Éirinn. Osclaíodh Cartlann Pearse Hutchinson go hoifigiúil i leabharlann Ollscoil Mhá Nuad i Mí an Mhárta i mbliana.
Reachtálfar Seachtain Cheartais Sóisialta Ollscoil Mhá Nuad 2014 ón Luan 13 Deireadh Fómhair go dtí an Aoine, 17 Deireadh Fómhair. Tuilleadh eolais ag: maynoothuniversity.ie/socialjustice
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President Michael D. Higgins visited the campus of Maynooth University today (Monday, October 13) to officially launch Social Justice Week 2014, inspiring students to use their university experience as an opportunity to learn about–and act on—social injustices around the world.
Social Justice Week is a collaborative effort between students, staff and not-for-profit agencies aimed at raising awareness of global challenges, promoting social justice and challenging individuals to make a positive difference to the world around them.
As part of Social Justice Week, the Maynooth Social Justice Project has organized a diverse programme of lectures, workshops, photography exhibition, film screenings and interfaith celebrations to educate students and staff on some of the world’s most pressing challenges and to engage with them on efforts being made by individuals and organisations around the globe to develop solutions.
Amongst the themes to be addressed over the week are human trafficking, climate change, child poverty, conflict in the Middle East and mental health illness. Representatives from not-for-profit agencies such as Trocaire, Amnesty International and the International Justice Mission will be on hand to advise students on volunteer opportunities overseas.
In his remarks at the launch of Social Justice Week, President Higgins said that Ireland has a moral responsibility to ensure that its migration laws respect individuals who have been displaced. "The arrival on these shores of people who are fleeing war and persecution, the movement of workers and families who are escaping destitution and poverty, are global issues in the addressing of which Ireland has a moral duty to play its part, both through our role in the international community, and in our laws, policies and practices at the national level," he said.
Speaking at the launch, President of Maynooth University, Professor Philip Nolan said: “We are truly honoured to have President Higgins officially launch Maynooth University Social Justice Week. President Higgins has demonstrated a true commitment to social justice and helping others throughout his career and clearly recognises the important message of social responsibility Maynooth University endeavours to communicate. Social Justice is an integral element of the Maynooth University ethos and it will continue to inform our vision of education into the future.”
“As new students come through our doors each year, we have a responsibility to nurture their critical thinking both in and outside the classroom and to equip them with the necessary strengths to become responsible and socially engaged global citizens. Social Justice Week is a true example of this commitment,” he said.
President Higgins also took time out to view the archive of renowned multilingual author, poet and activist Pearse Hutchinson housed in the Maynooth University library. Throughout his life, Pearse Hutchinson used his writings to champion the causes of many social justice issues, including the anti-apartheid movement, civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, Catalan quest for independence, human rights abuses in South America and trade unionism in Ireland. The Pearse Hutchinson Archive was officially opened in Maynooth University’s library in March this year.
Maynooth University Social Justice Week 2014 runs from Monday, 13th October to Friday, 17th October. For more information please visit Maynooth University Social Justice Project
Pictured: Shay Claffey Chairman of Maynooth Social Justice Committee, President of Maynooth University Professor Philip Nolan, President of ireland Michael D.Higgins and Síona Cahill, Maynooth Students Union.