Northern Ireland Office

Human Rights Minister, David Hanson MP today facilitated the inaugural meeting of the Bill of Rights Forum.

The Forum’s work will inform the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in fulfilling its statutory duty to provide advice to the Secretary of State on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights reflecting the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.

David Hanson said: “I am very grateful to all those who have responded so quickly and have shown such willingness to come forward and discuss this very important issue. Their enthusiasm has helped ensure that this inaugural meeting of the Bill of Rights Forum could take place today.”

Today’s meeting provided the opportunity to welcome the members and table papers outlining the decisions Government has taken on the Forum. Attendees had the opportunity to give a brief outline of their expectations for the Forum.

The Minister said: “The Government will be taking forward arrangements to appoint an independent chair for the Forum. I hope we can achieve this early in the New Year. Once the Chair has been appointed I would expect the Forum to get down to business early and, as a first step, to agree its operating procedures. I wish the Forum well.”

Notes to Editors

Establishment of the Forum, and the timeframe for it to convene its inaugural meeting was announced following discussions at St Andrews. Following a recent consultation on the Forum, the Government announced its final plans for the Forum on 12 December.

The DUP, Sinn Fein, UUP and SDLP each have 3 seats on the Forum and the Alliance Party has 2 seats.

Civic Society is represented by Employers, Trade Unions, and Churches which each have 2 seats, as well as 1 representative from each of the following sectors: children and young people; people with disabilities; ethnic minorities; older people; people of different sexual orientations; women; and the community / voluntary sector as a whole.