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01/02/2005
Commission tackles Government on Rathgael conditions
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (HRC) is taking the government to court today in order to win the right to monitor conditions at the Juvenile Justice Centre in Rathgael, Bangor.
The Commission said it had sought a judicial review of the decision by the Northern Ireland Office not to grant it access rights to the Centre.
The HRC wants to check whether the recommendations contained in its report 'In Our Care: Promoting the Rights of Children in Custody', published in March 2002, are being properly implemented.
The report made a number of findings regarding the treatment of young offenders in the juvenile justice system.
Professor Brice Dickson, Chief Commissioner of the HRC: “We are extremely disappointed that we have had to go to these lengths to gain access to the Rathgael Centre.
“Given the announcement by the Secretary of State (Paul Murphy) in December that we would be given the right to visit places of detention, it is frustrating that we still have to take legal action in order to complete our review of conditions for children held in this facility.”
Meanwhile, a new report by academics has questioned the effectiveness of the Commission.
In a two-year study by two professors from Bristol University and Queen's University in Belfast, the report said that while the Commission had achieved positive outcomes in some areas, its effectiveness in a number of areas is disputed.
Placing responsibility for the failings partly on the government, the report was critical of the NIO.
The report was compiled by Dr Rachel Murray of the University of Bristol and the late Professor Stephen Livingstone of Queen's University.
(MB/SP)
The Commission said it had sought a judicial review of the decision by the Northern Ireland Office not to grant it access rights to the Centre.
The HRC wants to check whether the recommendations contained in its report 'In Our Care: Promoting the Rights of Children in Custody', published in March 2002, are being properly implemented.
The report made a number of findings regarding the treatment of young offenders in the juvenile justice system.
Professor Brice Dickson, Chief Commissioner of the HRC: “We are extremely disappointed that we have had to go to these lengths to gain access to the Rathgael Centre.
“Given the announcement by the Secretary of State (Paul Murphy) in December that we would be given the right to visit places of detention, it is frustrating that we still have to take legal action in order to complete our review of conditions for children held in this facility.”
Meanwhile, a new report by academics has questioned the effectiveness of the Commission.
In a two-year study by two professors from Bristol University and Queen's University in Belfast, the report said that while the Commission had achieved positive outcomes in some areas, its effectiveness in a number of areas is disputed.
Placing responsibility for the failings partly on the government, the report was critical of the NIO.
The report was compiled by Dr Rachel Murray of the University of Bristol and the late Professor Stephen Livingstone of Queen's University.
(MB/SP)
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08 June 2005
Queen’s to debate future of Human Rights Commissions
The future of Human Rights Commissions in the UK and Ireland will be examined at Queen's University Belfast this week. The Human Rights Centre at the Queen's School of Law, in co-operation with the Faculty of Law, University of Bristol, will hold a half-day conference in Belfast on Friday on the role of both Commissions.
Queen’s to debate future of Human Rights Commissions
The future of Human Rights Commissions in the UK and Ireland will be examined at Queen's University Belfast this week. The Human Rights Centre at the Queen's School of Law, in co-operation with the Faculty of Law, University of Bristol, will hold a half-day conference in Belfast on Friday on the role of both Commissions.
08 March 2007
HRC calls for improvements in treatment of women prisoners
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has marked today’s International Women’s Day by calling for improvements in the way women prisoners are treated in Northern Ireland.
HRC calls for improvements in treatment of women prisoners
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has marked today’s International Women’s Day by calling for improvements in the way women prisoners are treated in Northern Ireland.
24 March 2009
Teen Denies Police Murder Charge
A teenager has appeared in court to deny murdering police officer Constable Stephen Carroll, 48, who was shot dead in Craigavon on Monday 9 March. He was in the dock at Lisburn Magistrates Court where the court was told he "made no reply to the charges", when they were put to him.
Teen Denies Police Murder Charge
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20 October 2005
Human rights central to citizenship - Minister
Human rights are central to citizenship and have an important role to play in moving Northern Ireland towards an equal, just and peaceful future. That was the message from Education Minister, Angela Smith, at today's cross-border conference on Human Rights Education in Dublin.
Human rights central to citizenship - Minister
Human rights are central to citizenship and have an important role to play in moving Northern Ireland towards an equal, just and peaceful future. That was the message from Education Minister, Angela Smith, at today's cross-border conference on Human Rights Education in Dublin.
28 January 2005
Belfast to hold international Human Rights conference
A major conference, bringing together over 20 international human rights leaders from 12 countries, will take place in Belfast this weekend.
Belfast to hold international Human Rights conference
A major conference, bringing together over 20 international human rights leaders from 12 countries, will take place in Belfast this weekend.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
