CiNI Briefing - MHLDR Human Rights

Children in Northern Ireland

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We believe that this current consultation on recommendations on human rights and equality of opportunity across law, policy and provisions affecting people with mental health needs or learning disability is an immensely significant element of the overall Review.

CiNI believes that it is the human rights and equality of opportunity standards that are ultimately the key to delivering policy, legislation and practice that can best meet both the rights and needs of people with mental health needs and learning disability.

In responding to this consultation CiNI’s primary concern is to ensure that the recommendations on human rights and equality of opportunity do not sit in isolation from the wider Review process. Protection and promotion of international and domestic human rights and equality of opportunity standards for people with mental health needs and learning disability are ultimately the core element of the Review and we welcome the work of the Human Rights and Equality Group in informing the wider Review process by formulating a set of overarching human rights and equality guidelines against which each Working Committee must test their discussions and recommendations. CiNI also recognises and accepts that in the areas identified in the Review report there are specific human rights and equality of opportunity concerns that are deserving of the Review’s particular attention.

We welcome in particular, in line with the Section 75 duty to consult with children and young people, the production of a young person accessible version of this report and would request information on how the Human Rights and Equality Group has directly consulted with children and young people on the report’s recommendations and indeed would welcome the analysis from this consultation process.