A HUMAN rights group in Northern Ireland has called for an independent body to deal with the issue of contentious parades.
The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights (SACHR) wants the proposed new body to create a code of practice for controversial parades which would allow the issue to be tackled through "communal accommodation".
In its submission to the Northern Ireland Review of Parades and Marches, the SACHR said such an accommodation would "combine elements of both the right to march and the communal consent, policy".
The independent body could also consider appeals against police decisions on marches.
SACHR said that the code of practice would be used to assist negotiation at local level between marchers and residents. But should the negotiations be unsuccessful the independent body should be allowed to make binding decisions about marches, and impose sanctions if those decisions were not adhered to.
The SACHR stressed that bind decisions must have full support from the RUC, the British army and the Northern Secretary. It also recommends lengthening the period of notice for marches and provision for objections.
Mr Michael Lavery QC, the SACHR chairman while welcoming the review, again called for an independent inquiry into the events leading up to, during and since Drumcree. The SACHR submission complains that during Drumcree "the failure to maintain the supremacy of the rule of law resulted in serious violations of human rights".
"The Commission believes that the failure to maintain the rule of law had, and will continue to have, a devastating effect on the stability of this part of the United Kingdom unless urgent steps are, taken to repair the damage," the SACHR submission said.
It also outlined what international conventions on human rights have to say about parades, which are "an area of competing rights", Mr Lavery said.
