Welcome to CAN
Community Action Network (CAN) is a community development NGO based in Dublin.
Founded in 1986 by a small group of community activists, CAN’s agenda was very clear - to support marginalised groups and communities to work for social change towards a more equal and just society.
25 years later, this is still our core mission.
Transformative Leadership Programme
CAN in collaboration with The Wheel have delivered a third Leadership for Equality Programme. This very successful programme is aimed at senior leaders and managers in the community and voluntary sector. 16 participants have recently graduated with a level 8 Certificate in Community Education and Equality from Maynooth University.
Watch the video above to hear what past participants have to say about the course.
We are now recruiting for 'Transformative Leadership Programme' Level 8 NUIM (Formally known as 'Leadership for Equality'). If you are interested in developing your leadership skills and competencies and would like to know more about this programme click here.
For further information and application form download from The Wheel website www.wheel.ie. Contact Elizabeth Bolger at The Wheel elizabeth@wheel.ie ph. 01 4548727 or for more information about the programme content contact Monica Manning at monicamanning@canaction.ie phone 01 8788005.
Closing date for applications is Friday 27th October 2017.
Whatever action we embark on we believe that the people most affected by the issue must be central to its resolution. CAN accompanies people as they assert their right to participate fully in society, to have their voice heard and their choices respected. We achieve this by promoting leadership and participative democracy and working to redress inequalities in disadvantaged communities.
CAN on video
Throughout the website, you will find links to videos from CAN's YouTube channel. This holds a growing collection of short video clips related to CAN's work.
CAN: Leadership
A 3 part video from CAN's YouTube channel on the subject of CAN's approach to Leadership.
News
COLLECTIVE COMPLAINT RESULT ANNOUNCED
Tenants Welcome European Committee of Social Rights Finding That Ireland Has Failed To Provide Adequate Housing Conditions on Local Authority Estates
CAN has been working with local authority tenants across Ireland who live in deplorable conditions – a violation of their Human Rights.The Council of Europe provides for groups whose Human Rights as set out in the EU Revised Charter of Fundamental Rights are not being protected by the State to take a Collective Complaint.CAN organised tenants to gather the evidence needed to substantiate the Complaint, supported by The Centre for Housing Law, Right and Policy at NUI Galway and Ballymun Community Law Centre.
In 2014, a complaint was finally submitted by a recognized European Human Rights body FIDH, to the Council , with the support of affiliate member FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) along with PILA (Public Interest Law Alliance).After two years of deliberation, the Committee finally announced its decision on October 23rd 2017!
The Committee found Ireland in violation of Article 16 of the Revised Social Charter, which protects the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection, including the provision of family housing.
At a press conference following the announcement, Cecilia Forrestal of Community Action Network said that she was hopeful that the Government would see the European decision as a positive contribution to its overall housing vision and would take the necessary steps to bring its laws, policies and practices back into line with European housing standards. Member states are obliged to take steps to address any violations found by the European Committee. 'This is an important benchmark decision and it demands a serious response,' she said. 'We urge the Minister for Housing particularly to see this decision as a positive contribution to Irish housing policy. Nobody wants to see Irish State housing being run down. These Irish citizens have a right to a decent home, in particular the children living in State housing.'
Debbie Mulhall, a resident and community leader in Dolphin House said: 'This decision recognizes for the first time that that it is the state’s landlords, the local authorities, that have failed to take the adequate measures necessary to ensure our basic right to proper housing.'
This is the beginning. The Decision means that the Irish Government must now take stock of the housing conditions, and put in place a timed programme with clear targets to address the issues. They will have to report on progress to the Council of Europe at regular intervals.
We in CAN want to thank all those who helped us to reach this point, and particularly those residents who have worked tirelessly to assert their rights. We look forward to building on this momentous result.
Read the decision of the Council by clicking here.
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize Launch
In 2014, a Collective Complaint was lodged with the Council of Europe on behalf of tenants in 20 Local Authority estates in Ireland. The substance of the Complaint was that conditions in many homes on these estates violated peoples' human rights under the Revised European Social Charter. You can download documents (ZIP file) about this experience here.
On 6th of October 2016 Community Action Network (CAN) launched a Film documenting the process of taking a Collective Complaint called KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE. It tells the story of the aforementioned Collective Complaint and outlines how this process can be used for other population groups whose human rights are not being respected, protected or fulfilled. You can download information (ZIP file) on the Collective Complaint Procedure here.
At this event, there was a screening of the film followed by a workshop led by those who have been through the process.