Human Rights Act Reform – Implications for Northern Ireland

February 5, 2022

The implications for Northern Ireland of UK government plans to reform the Human Rights Act were discussed at a recent Consortium briefing webinar.  On the 14th December 2021 the UK Government announced a public consultation on their plans to scrap the Human Rights Act and replace it with a Bill of Rights. The Human Rights Act has played a significant role in implementing one of the core human rights protections of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement by helping incorporate rights from the European Convention of Human Rights into domestic legislation. The HRA has acted as an important safeguard on the exercise of power in Northern Ireland by the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 20+ years of its existence.

On the 27th January 2022 the Consortium hosted an online briefing seminar to hear from leading academics and civil society organisations on the scope of the UK Governments plans for the Human Rights Act, what those changes could mean for existing protections locally, how it might interact or undermine other rights commitments in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement such as a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights and how members of the public and civil society can get involved and respond to these proposed changes.

This event included Professor Christopher McCrudden, Queen’s University Belfast and Kevin Hanratty, Director Human Rights Consortium. A recording of this event is available to view below and Professor McCrudden’s presentation is available to download below. 

UK Government Consultation on HRA : https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/human-rights-act-reform-a-modern-bill-of-rights