Rights and Equality
Enshrined at the heart of the Agreement is a desire to protect human rights and promote equality.
This was collectively affirmed by the parties in the commitment within the Agreement to “the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community... in particular... the right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnicity.”
The Agreement paved the way for the creation of both the Equality Commission (sponsored by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister) and the Human Rights Commission. These bodies were established under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and came into existence the following year.
The Agreement also recommended the establishment of a statutory equality duty placed on the public sector requiring them to promote equality of opportunity and good community relations in every aspect of their work. This was brought into effect by section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Almost all public authorities operating in Northern Ireland have signed up to the equality duty.
As required by the Agreement, the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees all fundamental rights, was incorporated into UK law in October 2000. This means Convention rights can now be claimed in local courts.
The Agreement also tasked the Human Rights Commission to advise on the scope for a Bill of Rights, additional to those in the European Convention on Human Rights, to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.
The Commission has undertaken broad consultation and produced two documents. Alongside this, the Government is committed to establishing a broadly based forum on the Bill of Rights.
This would be an opportunity for effective and comprehensive discussion amongst all political parties represented in the Assembly and wider civic society on what shape a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland should take to attract widespread confidence across the community.
News Releases
- Goggins welcomes massive civil recovery settlement Wednesday 1 July 2009
- Woodward attends Somme commemorations Wednesday 1 July 2009
- HRH the Earl of Wessex attends Agri-food conference in Belfast Wednesday 1 July 2009
Publications
- Section 75 Northern Ireland Act 1998 - Annual Progress Report 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008 PDF Document, 393 KB
- Section 75 Northern Ireland Act 1998 Annual Progress Report 1 April 2006 – 31 March 2007 PDF Document, 234 KB
- NIO Disability Action Plan July 2007 - March 2010 PDF Document, 942 KB
- Show all related publications
