The North's Human Rights Commission is recommending that a new Bill of Rights includes a return to jury trial in paramilitary cases and the restoration of the right to silence for suspects during police interrogation.
The commission yesterday published its provisional proposals for what should be contained in a Bill of Rights for the North. They will be sent to the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, and then distributed across the North.
The public has until December 1st to comment. After it has considered the public reaction, the commission will send its final recommendations to Dr Reid in March. It will urge the British government to enact the Bill of Rights as soon as possible.
However, the commission's powers are advisory only and there is no legal requirement for London to implement its recommendations. In its draft proposals, the commission declines to recommend that the 1967 British Abortion Act be extended to the North.
Ms Goretti Horgan, of Alliance for Choice, which is campaigning for the extension of the Act, said: "We are very disappointed. The right for a woman to control her fertility and make decisions around pregnancy is included in the South African constitution. We had hoped for the same here."
The commission recommends the restoration of the right to silence for paramilitary suspects in police custody. It also argues for the right to jury trial for those accused of paramilitary offences and for fairer trial procedures. It proposes restricting the circumstances in which the security forces can lawfully employ lethal force.
The commission suggests that proportional representation be introduced here for Westminster elections - the first-past-the-post system currently operates in the North and in Britain.
It is in favour of prisoners being granted the right to vote and for the voting age for Assembly elections to be lowered from 18 to 17. The commission proposes the right for elected representatives to "fair, full and effective participation in governing Northern Ireland".
It states that the rights of all communities must be protected on an equal basis. It proposes the right to "enjoy one's culture, practise one's religion, and use one's language". The rights of the Travelling community are also upheld.
The commission suggests the adoption in the North of the UN's Convention on the Rights of the Child. It proposes that children should have the right to "grow up in a supportive environment, to be protected from all forms of violence and exploitation".
The full text of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission document is available on the Irish Times website at: www.ireland.com.