PROPOSALS FOR a separate Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland are “inadequate” and “exceptionally disappointing”, according to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
The commission complained yesterday the Northern Ireland Office consultation paper on the Bill demonstrated a “lack of understanding of the purpose and functions of a Bill of Rights”. It said it was “shocked at the limited nature of this document”.
Responding to the consultation paper drawn up by Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward last November, the commission said the paper failed to take appropriate account of standards in relation to international, human and women’s rights; that it failed to satisfy the minimum common law consultation requirements; and misrepresented the advice given by the commission.
“We are heartened that the devolution of policing and justice has moved forward. Now we need to move forward from justice, onto human rights,” said head of commission Prof Monica McWilliams.
The commission expressed concern the Bill in its current form appeared to be suggesting the lowering of existing human rights standards. “The commission does not accept this as a genuine effort to increase human rights protections in Northern Ireland,” said Prof McWilliams.
Prof Colin Harvey, head of the law school at Queen’s University, Belfast, said that everyone who had worked on the Bill for the last eight years was “insulted and offended” by its contents.