Outline:

1. What is the NIHRC?

2. What are human rights?

3. What human rights issues affect young people?

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1. What is the NIHRC?

Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, 1998

‘Rights, Safeguards & Equality of Opportunity’

Northern Ireland Act, 1998Sets out what our powers and functions are.

We are funded by the government but INDEPENDENT of government.

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International recognition

Part of a network of over 130 NHRIs.

United Nations Paris Principles compliant.

‘A’ status. Representation at

the UN.

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What we do at the NIHRC:

Made up of 8 Commissioners, small staff team. Chief Commissioner is Michael O’Flaherty.

4 main functions: Investigating Advising Educating Litigating

Functions of the NIHRC

4 main functions: Investigating – look into possible human rights abuses,

research, inspect prisons eg report on nursing homes

Advising – government departments on how to make legislation and policy human rights compliant

Educating – deliver training, promote human rights education in schools, host conferences and seminars

Litigating – take cases in our own name, intervene in cases to give the human rights perspective.

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2. What are human rights?

Human rights are the basic rights we all have simply because we are human.

They are the fundamental things we need to flourish and grow and to participate fully in society.

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Where do human rights come from?

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“Human rights are inscribed in the hearts of people; they were there

long before lawmakers drafted their first proclamation.”

Mary Robinson,Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Power and accountability...

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Power and accountability...

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Human rights law

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UN Treaties that the UK has signed

ICERD International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965)

ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)

ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)

CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979)

CAT Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984)

CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)

CRPD Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)

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The ECHR and the HRA

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) 1950

Treaty of the Council of Europe

European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg

Human Rights Act (1998)

The UK government passed this law to make the ECHR accessible in the UK courts.

Aims to create a ‘culture of rights’ in the UK.

What is a public authority?

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3. What human rights issues affect young people?

1. What are the main issues that you think are affecting young people’s lives where you live?

2. Can you link those issues to the human rights we have discussed?

3. What do you think public authorities should be doing about them?

Northern Ireland Human Rights CommissionTemple Court39 North StreetBelfastBT1 1NA

Tel: (028) 9024 3987Fax: (028) 9024 7844www.nihrc.orgFacebook.com/nihrcTwitter: @nihrc

Thanks for your participation.