Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Protecting and promoting your rights http://www.facebook.com/nihrc http://www.nihrc.org Follow us

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) is an independent, statutory organisation set up in 1999 to help protect and promote the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland.

The NIHRC office will be closed on Monday 25th May for the bank holiday, reopening on Tuesday 26th May.
22/05/2026

The NIHRC office will be closed on Monday 25th May for the bank holiday, reopening on Tuesday 26th May.

One of NIHRC’s statutory remits is to promote human rights in Northern Ireland. Over the past few weeks, Commission staf...
15/05/2026

One of NIHRC’s statutory remits is to promote human rights in Northern Ireland. Over the past few weeks, Commission staff engaged with stakeholders and groups to promote human rights, including:

🟣 NIHRC CEO David Russell attended the Commonwealth Sport European Network event in Belfast, pictured with President of Commonwealth Sport, Dr Donald Rukare, and Regional Development Manager Africa and Europe, Ezera Tshabangu
🟣 Led an interactive human rights workshop with pupils at St Killian’s College, Carnlough
🟣 Met with the President of Commonwealth Sport to discuss the intersection of sport and human rights, as part of the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
🟣 Engaged with NSPCC Northern Ireland training on best practice in safeguarding

15/05/2026

This morning, the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe has adopted its Chişinău Declaration.

The Declaration is a non-binding document expressing the views and concerns of member State governments on migration and human rights protection in Europe, in particular relating to the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention) system.

We engaged extensively throughout its development, participating in meetings of the Council of Europe committee established to prepare a draft of the Declaration, submitting drafting proposals, and releasing statements.

Throughout these, we called on the Council of Europe member States to ensure that the Declaration respects and affirms the human rights of all individuals in Europe and protects the independence of the European Court of Human Rights and the integrity of the Convention system.

Following its release, we will continue to closely follow developments and work to promote and protect the rights of all - as enshrined in the Convention.

Read the full text of the Chişinău Declaration: https://rm.coe.int/pdf/09125948802bc2cc

This Sunday, two NIHRC teams took on the Belfast City Marathon Team Relay, fundraising for the Stroke Association. Congr...
05/05/2026

This Sunday, two NIHRC teams took on the Belfast City Marathon Team Relay, fundraising for the Stroke Association.

Congratulations to Team Fantastic and Team Grand Job on an incredible achievement.

Thank you to everyone who donated and supported us!

This week, Commission staff undertook a range of engagement activities with stakeholders and groups to promote human rig...
01/05/2026

This week, Commission staff undertook a range of engagement activities with stakeholders and groups to promote human rights, including:

🟣 Delivered policy training to the Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service (RAISE)
🟣 Engaged with Washington Ireland Program Academy students and their presentation on art and human rights
🟣 Highlighted the work of the Commission at the Human Rights Cities Network meeting in Glasgow
🟣 Recorded a podcast episode with NSPCC Northern Ireland, as part of our Rights at the Finish Line series
🟣 Coordinated the first Arts & Human Rights Forum with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
🟣 Delivered an interactive human rights workshop to Italian students visiting NI to study the peace process

The NIHRC office will be closed on Monday 4th May for the bank holiday, reopening on Tuesday 5th May.
01/05/2026

The NIHRC office will be closed on Monday 4th May for the bank holiday, reopening on Tuesday 5th May.

Today, the NI Arts and Human Rights Forum held its inaugural meeting at the NIHRC offices, joined by CEO David Russell.W...
30/04/2026

Today, the NI Arts and Human Rights Forum held its inaugural meeting at the NIHRC offices, joined by CEO David Russell.

We had a great discussion on how the arts can engage with and advance human rights. Thank you to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Forum Chair Javier Stanziola, and all forum members for taking part, and to our speakers Community Arts Partnership and the Washington Ireland Programme Academy for sharing their insights and experience.

29/04/2026

The Commission has published a briefing paper on human rights and budgeting, exploring the connection between government budgets and their responsibilities to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights.

Chief Commissioner, Alyson Kilpatrick, commented:
“A human rights approach to budgeting is an effective allocation of resources, that protects everyone, but which ensures fairness for the most vulnerable in their access to, for example, food, housing, healthcare and education.”

Watch the video below, where the Chief Commissioner explains the benefits of a human rights approach to budgeting for both government and the people they serve.

Read the briefing paper here: https://nihrc.org/publication/detail/briefing-paper-human-rights-and-budgeting

Address

4th Floor Alfred House, 19-21 Alfred Street
Belfast
BT28ED

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442890243987

Website

https://uk.linkedin.com/company/northern-ireland-human-rights-commission, http://www.twitter.com/

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