The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Case Study

History of the NIHRC

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent organisation

It started work on 1st March 1999 and was introduced as part of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement

They help protect and promote the Human Rights of every citizen in Northern Ireland

Positions in the NIHRC

Chief Commissioner (currently Professor Monica McWilliams)

Nine part-time Commissioners Twenty-four members of staff divided into three

Departments: Communications and Education Legal Services, Policy and Research Corporate Services

What do they do to safeguard our Human Rights?

They work to ensure that your human rights are protected by: advising government on its obligation to uphold human rights reviewing law and practice to make sure they are in line with

human rights standards putting forward proposals for new laws such as a Bill of Rights

for Northern Ireland investigating matters of concern such as prison conditions, mental

health care and racism promoting an awareness of human rights in, for example, schools

and the police service taking cases to court to highlight alleged human rights abuses working with other organisations to promote human rights in

Northern Ireland.

Education

The NIHRC educate young people in schools about their work through Citizenship classes

They advertise their work through posters and leaflets

They work closely with the media and provide Press Releases about their work

They get young people involved in their campaigns to promote Human Rights

Work with the Government

All laws introduced by the Northern Ireland Assembly must be in line with the ECHR

The NIHRC are working with the Northern Ireland Assembly to introduce a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland

They are currently campaigning in schools so young people have a voice in the introduction of the NI Bill of Rights

Advocacy

Advocacy is about speaking out on issues to influence decisions

The NIHRC speak out about the rights of people in Northern Ireland to affect change

They want the NI Assembly, UK Government and the European Parliament to ensure that our voice is heard at a local, national and international level

Benefits – Individual and Community

The people in Northern Ireland know that all new laws are in line with the European Convention on Human Rights

We know that the NIHRC protect and promote our rights

We know if we feel our Human Rights are being violated we can seek advice and support from the NIHRC

How effective is the NIHRC?

The NIHRC is very effective in protecting and promoting the Human Rights of all citizens in Northern Ireland

We are very lucky that our Human Rights are protected in every new law introduced here

With the work of the NIHRC we know that if someone is violating our Human Rights we are protected