Introduction Following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, a “piecemeal” method of dealing with the past emerged due to that agreement’s lack of an overarching method to confront the legacy of the Troubles.[1] Due to this lack of continuity, the Stormont House Agreement (2014) provided for four measures to fill this gap: (1) an Implementation…Continue reading Immunity for State Forces in Latin America and Northern Ireland: A Comparative Perspective By Gemma Canham, Graduate in Politics and Spanish, Queen’s University Belfast
Tag: northern ireland
Reverse burdens of proof and Unexplained Wealth Orders Sean Molloy, Lecturer in Law, Northumbria University
Naomi Long- the Minister for Justice- has recently reaffirmed her intention to introduce Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWO) in Northern Ireland (NI). The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) called for the move last November in a report which said the additional powers would help law enforcement tackle paramilitarism and organised crime. This would seem, to most, a…Continue reading Reverse burdens of proof and Unexplained Wealth Orders Sean Molloy, Lecturer in Law, Northumbria University
Council of Europe minority rights report – time to move on Irish language act and end abuse of the ‘good relations’ duty
This week saw the publication of the Fourth Opinion on the UK by the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for National Minorities. In accordance with the treaty-body procedure the report itself was finalised on the 25 May 2016 but awaited UK government comments before its publication. The report therefore was completed…Continue reading Council of Europe minority rights report – time to move on Irish language act and end abuse of the ‘good relations’ duty
Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival Programme Launched!
Today saw the launch of the programme for the 2014 Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival (NIHRF). The festival, which will take place from 8-13 December, consists of a series of events on a range of human rights issues from home and abroad in celebration of International Human Rights Day on 10 December . All events…Continue reading Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival Programme Launched!
The background to CAJs legal challenge to the Anti-Poverty Strategy
17 October marks UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This post sets out the background to the decision in the high court last month to grant CAJ leave to judicially review the Northern Ireland Executive over its alleged failure to adopt an anti poverty strategy based on objective need. Following the 2006 St…Continue reading The background to CAJs legal challenge to the Anti-Poverty Strategy
CONFERENCE: Challenging the Oppression of Lawyers in Times of Conflict
On Wednesday 13 November 2013 the Human Rights Centre, School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast are hosting a one day conference entitled ‘Challenging the Oppression of Lawyers in Times of Conflict’. It is open to anyone interested in conflict studies, politics, international relations, human rights, international law, justice and transitional justice. SPEAKERS…Continue reading CONFERENCE: Challenging the Oppression of Lawyers in Times of Conflict
Housing, the UN and Northern Ireland – Where to now?
In the wake of the visit to Northern Ireland by UN Special Rapporteur, Raquel Rolnik, PPR’s Director of Policy, Nicola Browne asks where to now for housing? Nicola can be contacted at nicola@pprproject.org Much heat has been generated, but not much light shed, around the work of the UN Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate…Continue reading Housing, the UN and Northern Ireland – Where to now?
“Grit and Determination”: Women Delivering Peace and Security UNSCR 1325
“Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, and stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution”…Continue reading “Grit and Determination”: Women Delivering Peace and Security UNSCR 1325
Mightier than the Sword: Journalism, Freedom of Expression and Power
“The Journalist who gives in to intimidation, who becomes obedient, has already lost the fight for that right (to freedom of expression)” Eynulla Fatullayev (2011) It’s a clichéd phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword”, but its message is typified in the work of Amnesty International’s decades-long letter/email-writing campaigns for human rights champions. Friday…Continue reading Mightier than the Sword: Journalism, Freedom of Expression and Power
SECOND CHANCE TO LISTEN: UK BILL OF RIGHTS COMMISSIONS SECOND CONSULTATION
Back in 2007 the Conservative party clearly outlined its vision for the future shape of human rights protections in the UK.[1] It stated that, ‘the Human Rights Act 1998 has not proved to be effective in protecting fundamental rights in Britain…A Conservative Government will repeal the Human Rights Act and replace it with a modern…Continue reading SECOND CHANCE TO LISTEN: UK BILL OF RIGHTS COMMISSIONS SECOND CONSULTATION
LLM Gender, Conflict and Human Rights
‘Taster’ Day and Drop-In Information Session Friday 22 June, 11am-2pm Room 82D23, Belfast campus, York Street The TJI is pleased to announce the launch its innovative new masters programme, LLM Gender, Conflict and Human Rights. For those interested in learning more about the programme, the TJI will be hosting a ‘taster’ day on Friday 22…Continue reading LLM Gender, Conflict and Human Rights
Still Waiting for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland
Fourteen years after the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement set in place the groundwork for a future Bill of Rights, the people of Northern Ireland continue to wait. Yesterday, Professor Colin Harvey, as part of a UU Transitional Justice Institute panel discussion on the Bill of Rights debate, likened the situation to Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. Certainly…Continue reading Still Waiting for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland