By NHRI mandate
By topic
Enabling environment for HRDs & CSOs
Environmental HRDs
Freedom of assembly and association
Freedom of expression
Freedom of the media
Funding of CSOs
Non-government controlled territories
Prohibition of discrimination
Protection of HRDs
Right to a fair trial
Right to an effective remedy
Right to privacy
Right to respect for private and family life
Sustainable Development Goals
Whistleblowers
Women HRDs
By country
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) contributed to the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society by engaging with international and regional mechanisms. The Commission provided written and oral evidence to the United Nations (UN) Committee on Civil and Political Rights during its eighth periodic review of the United Kingdom (UK) (NI Human Rights Commission, ‘Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee on the UK’s Eighth Periodic Report on Compliance with the UN ICCPR’ (NIHRC, 2024)). This included raising issues that concerned human rights defenders and civil society and advising the UN Committee on what recommendations would be most useful in Northern Ireland. The submission included recommendation on freedom of expression, i.e., the introduction of legislation in Northern Ireland that provides comprehensive protection against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), and a revised defamation law that strikes a fair balance between freedom of expression and the right to private life, including providing for a serious harm test.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
In 2020 and 2021, journalists investigating organised crime and paramilitarism in Northern Ireland received death threats. For example, journalist Patricia Devlin received online threats, including towards her young son and graffiti featuring the crosshair of a gun next to her name. In September 2021, her complaint that the Police Service had failed to investigate the complaints or provide protection was upheld. In April 2021, a Belfast Telegraph photographer was attacked whilst covering unrest in Belfast.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) recommended that limitations of journalists’ freedom of expression must be human rights compliant. Information allegedly linking state agents to non-human rights compliant conduct should not be withheld and HRDs should not face intimidation or reprisals for disclosing such information. The NIHRC insisted that the right to a fair trial and effective remedy for journalists are fulfilled. Additionally, it recommends that journalists have effective protection to report on issues of public importance.