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16/06/2005
McWilliams appointed chief of NI Human Rights Commission
Former Woman’s Coalition leader Monica McWilliams has been appointed as the new Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
Professor McWilliams, who succeeds Professor Brice Dickson, said she was delighted to be the new commissioner having “had a long-standing commitment to human rights in Northern Ireland”.
Currently the Professor of Women’s Studies and Social Policy at the University of Ulster, Professor McWilliams was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly representing the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition from 1998–2003.
Between 1996-1998 she was an elected representative to the Northern Ireland Forum and is currently a member of the Domestic Violence Committee of the Family Court’s Children’s Order Advisory Committee.
Welcoming the announcement, Paddy Sloan, Chief Executive of the Human Rights Commission, said: “I am delighted that the Secretary of State has secured the services of Commissioners with such a wide range of skills under the experienced leadership of Monica McWilliams.
“Staff are looking forward to working with a full Commission, building on the significant body of work produced to date, and moving the organisation onto a new level of effectiveness with the introduction of revised powers in the near future.”
Secretary of State Peter Hain added: “The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a key part of the architecture of human rights protections in Northern Ireland, and an important feature of the Belfast Agreement.
“I am confident that these new appointments will ensure that the Commission will make a significant contribution to the advancement and protection of human rights in Northern Ireland in the coming months and years.”
Seven Commissioners have also been appointed to the Commission announced today. They are: Jonathan Bell, Thomas Duncan, Professor Colin Harvey, Alan Henry, Ann Hope, Eamonn O’Neill and Geraldine Rice.
Professor McWilliams will take up her appointment on 1 September 2005.
(MB/SP)
Professor McWilliams, who succeeds Professor Brice Dickson, said she was delighted to be the new commissioner having “had a long-standing commitment to human rights in Northern Ireland”.
Currently the Professor of Women’s Studies and Social Policy at the University of Ulster, Professor McWilliams was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly representing the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition from 1998–2003.
Between 1996-1998 she was an elected representative to the Northern Ireland Forum and is currently a member of the Domestic Violence Committee of the Family Court’s Children’s Order Advisory Committee.
Welcoming the announcement, Paddy Sloan, Chief Executive of the Human Rights Commission, said: “I am delighted that the Secretary of State has secured the services of Commissioners with such a wide range of skills under the experienced leadership of Monica McWilliams.
“Staff are looking forward to working with a full Commission, building on the significant body of work produced to date, and moving the organisation onto a new level of effectiveness with the introduction of revised powers in the near future.”
Secretary of State Peter Hain added: “The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a key part of the architecture of human rights protections in Northern Ireland, and an important feature of the Belfast Agreement.
“I am confident that these new appointments will ensure that the Commission will make a significant contribution to the advancement and protection of human rights in Northern Ireland in the coming months and years.”
Seven Commissioners have also been appointed to the Commission announced today. They are: Jonathan Bell, Thomas Duncan, Professor Colin Harvey, Alan Henry, Ann Hope, Eamonn O’Neill and Geraldine Rice.
Professor McWilliams will take up her appointment on 1 September 2005.
(MB/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
