Elizabeth Coppin, who is originally from Kerry but now lives in the UK, took her case to the UN's Committee Against Torture.
She was born in a mother and baby home in 1949, before being sent to an industrial school and later to St Vincent's and the Good Shepard laundries in Cork.
She also spent time at laundries in Kerry and Waterford before being released just prior to her 19th birthday.
The State has until May 20th to respond to the UN.
Elizabeth, who claims she suffered severe abuse, says she's not happy with how the government dealt with her case:
