Children's charity Barnardos has said the proposed wording for a children's rights referendum seriously downgrades elements of the earlier proposal by an Oireachtas committee.
Barnados Head of Advocacy Norah Gibbons told RTÉ News that it was still assessing what of value remains in the Government's version unveiled on Friday.
Ms Gibbons was speaking following the launch of a campaign urging people to use their votes in the General Election to protect equality and human rights.
The initiative has been undertaken by the Equality and Rights Alliance, a coalition of 155 organisations and activists serving 250,000 people.
Equality and Rights Alliance chairwoman Joanna McMinn announced that US civil rights leader Rev Jesse Jackson has agreed to address the alliance's next public gathering in Dublin on 14 February.
Ms McMinn said his presence would underline their campaign's theme that 'you get what you elect'.
