The Rights of Indigenous Women Around the World – Understanding Root Causes of Inequality and Injustice

Date: Tuesday 06 December,  12.00noon – 1.30pm 

Location: Online via Zoom

This webinar will introduce participants to the challenges facing indigenous women, explore  right-based approaches in biodiversity conservation, and examine the root causes of injustice and inequality among indigenous people globally and locally. Our speakers will be Joseph Moses Oleshangay, an advocate with the Legal and Human Rights Centre in Tanzania and Dr. Sindy Joyce who is an Irish Traveller, a Human Rights Defender, a sociologist, and a member of President Michael D Higgins Council of State.


Indigenous women’s rights are embedded in international laws and human rights conventions, such as the  Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) of 1979. Joseph Moses Oleshangay will be speaking about how despite this protection (Tanzania ratified CEDAW in 1989), the rights of the Indigenous Maasai women in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) are violated at the national and international levels by governments and the private sector. How they are being threatened with eviction from their motherland in the name of conservation, and how this lack of respect for their rights is leading to gender inequality.


For more information on the issue, please read an article written by our staff member Maximiliana Mtenga when on placement at STAND an Initiative of Suas.


This event is free and open to all. 



Registration for this event is closed.

Biographies

Joseph Moses Oleshangay was born in Ngorongoro, Arusha Tanzania. He is a lawyer and practicing Advocate in Tanzania. He hold Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL. B) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (PGDLP) from the law school of Tanzania.  


From 2014, Joseph has worked in different capacities on general aspects of law and Indigenous rights advocacy in particular for the last five years, Joseph has been working with Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) the leading Human right organization in Tanzania first as the legal aid attorney at Arusha. Thereafter, in coordinating loose network of 27 CSO to Observe the conduct of the 2019 and 2020 Elections in Tanzania.  


Thereafter, Joseph was working on issues related to land tenure particularly on the marginalized group of Women, indigents, and indigenous Communities particularly in northern Tanzania. Joseph is the most known advocate for protection of Maasai land tenure and has assisted Masai in filing tenth of cases before local and regional Courts. 


He is an expert both in law, conservation, indigenous affairs, democracy and governance. 


Born and bred in Ngorongoro with a challenging economic and social justice, he has developed a special interest in rights of community legally living within and along the Tanzania protected areas and has been for over one decade been advocating for social and economic justice.  


He served as consultants in different capacities in the fields of land tenure, governance, democracy, human rights. He is one and the key founder of Ramat, a law firm based in Arusha with special focus and keen interest in human rights and general land rights. 


Beyond the mere question of bread and butter as an ordinary litigant, Joseph has been closely monitoring and largely expressed his views on the ongoing land issues in Ngorongoro and Loliondo. 

Biographies

Dr. Sindy Joyce is a Mincéir/Traveller from Newcastle West, County Limerick. She is a Human Rights Defender (HRD), a sociologist and a member of President Michael D Higgins Council of State. 


Her research focuses on Human Rights, racism, hate crime, ethnicity/identity, and social/political constructions of Irish Travellers. Her PhD thesis ‘Mincéirs Siúladh: An ethnographic study of young Travellers’ experiences of racism in an Irish city’ addressed the original and important question of how anti-Traveller racism shapes young people’s use of and movement through public space. 


Sindy is also on the anti-racism committee for the National Action Plan Against Racism. In 2019, Sindy was part of the Irish delegation to present evidence to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the treatment of Travellers in Ireland.

Budget 2026: Investing in Global Citizenship Education is Investing in Global Solidarity

August 11, 2025
Budget 2026: Investing in Global Citizenship Education is Investing in Global Solidarity “Ireland has received international recognition for its development education strategies… Without additional investment, we cannot seize the opportunity to turn development-aware children into development-aware adults.” - OECD DAC Peer Review of Ireland Read IDEA’s full Pre-Budget 2026 submission here . For over half a century, Ireland has invested in Global Citizenship Education (GCE), enabling people across the island to explore complex issues such as climate justice, human rights, and equality - and to take informed action for a more just and sustainable world. Between 2021 and 2024, €33.6 million was invested in programmes reaching over 1.2 million people, helping to embed GCE across schools, communities, and other learning spaces. This investment has made Ireland a European and global leader in the field. But in today’s turbulent context - with rising disinformation, polarisation, climate emergencies, and deepening inequalities - the need for GCE has never been greater. As Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond, told the IDEA Annual Conference in May 2025: “Now is the time to focus on the hard issues… These are among the greatest challenges of our time.” Why Now? Budget 2026 comes at a critical moment. Ireland is: Running out of time to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Preparing a new national GCE strategy for the next five years. Operating in a global context where democratic values, human rights, and multilateral cooperation are under unprecedented strain. The OECD has commended Ireland’s strong GCE strategies but has also warned that without additional investment, we risk falling short on SDG Target 4.7 - ensuring all learners acquire the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development. Our Key Budget 2026 Asks:  Increase investment in GCE Move towards the widely recognised target of 3% of Official Development Assistance (ODA), using a cross-departmental approach and accounting for inflation. Current spending is 1.2% of ODA - far below the €26 million annually needed to reach the 3% target. Boost GCE/ESD funding under “ESD to 2030” Provide adequate and dedicated funding for projects led by organisations, schools, and higher education institutions to ensure the successful delivery of the Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development. Create dedicated GCE/ESD funding lines Integrate and resource GCE/ESD within the SDG National Implementation Plan, Climate Action Plan, and National Action Plan Against Racism, recognising that climate justice and anti-racism are core components of global citizenship. Increase Ireland’s ODA Commit to a €300 million increase in Budget 2026 to make tangible progress towards the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA by 2030. Adopt Coalition 2030 recommendations Implement budget measures that ensure resources reach those furthest behind first, and align budget lines with specific SDG targets. Beyond Funding – Policy Coherence and Decent Work In addition to resourcing, GCE requires stronger coordination across government departments and better integration into policies, institutions, and networks. GCE practitioners must also have secure, decent working conditions in line with SDG 8, ensuring that expertise is retained within the sector. The Opportunity for Ireland Ireland is respected globally for its principled, values-based approach to international development. By investing in GCE now, we can: Strengthen civic trust, participation, and resilience in our society. Equip citizens to navigate complex global challenges. Ensure Ireland remains a strong, independent voice for justice, solidarity, and human rights on the world stage. Budget 2026 is our opportunity to protect the progress made, scale up impact, and deliver on our commitments. IDEA and our members are ready to work with Irish Aid and across government to ensure Ireland continues to lead with integrity, foresight, and global solidarity. _______________________________________________________ Read IDEA’s full Pre-Budget 2026 submission here to explore our recommendations in detail and see how, together, we can strengthen Global Citizenship Education in Ireland and beyond.
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IDEA Members Summer Knowledge Share Session Catch-Up

August 2, 2025
Catch-up on a Summer of Learning!

Call for Tender: Auditing Services

July 24, 2025
IDEA invites tender submissions from interested auditing service suppliers to provide auditing and associated professional services to the organisation from the year ending 31 December 2025. IDEA is seeking to engage an experienced auditing service firm that will provide the full range of auditing services required to fulfil its statutory obligations, to comply with relevant accounting and reporting standards and best practice. All submissions to be made to sal@ideaonline.ie You can find the full details here. The deadline for the application is Monday, 11 August, 5pm .