Protection of rights central to Good Friday Agreement

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Human rights were an important part of the Good Friday agreement signed ten years ago, says the NI Human Rights Commission.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is highlighting the important human rights components of the Belfast Agreement signed on 10 April 2008.

“On this 10th anniversary we should be proud that human rights considerations were at the forefront of this historic Agreement. Following the recent report of the Bill of Rights Forum, the Commission is confident that one of the final pieces of the Agreement’s proposals will be progressed before the end of this year,” said Chief Commissioner, Professor Monica McWilliams.

“The Commission has been tasked with taking forward the final advice on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and we look forward to completing this task. The Agreement also points to a Charter of Rights and this process will undoubtedly be informed by a Bill of Rights.”

The Agreement proposed the creation of the Commission, with membership from Northern Ireland reflecting the community balance.

It also said the Commission should consult and advise the UK government on the scope for defining in legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights, to reflect the particular circumstances here.

These additional rights – a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland – were to reflect the principles of mutual respect for the identity and ethos of both communities and parity of esteem.

The parties to the Agreement also affirmed their commitment to the mutual respect, civil rights and religious liberties of everyone in Northern Ireland and in particular to:

  1. the right of free political thought;
  2. the right to freedom and expression of religion;
  3. the right to pursue democratically national and political aspirations;
  4. the right to seek constitutional change by peaceful and legitimate means;
  5. the right to freely choose one’s place of residence;
  6. the right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnicity;
  7. the right to freedom from sectarian harassment; and
  8. the right of women to full and equal political participation.

Read the Good Friday Agreement here: http://www.nio.gov.uk/agreement.pdf.


Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission | Claire Martin | 10 Apr 2008
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