Working to Protect
Your Rights

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission protects the rights of everyone in Northern Ireland. By monitoring and advising the Northern Ireland Executive, the United Kingdom Government and Westminster Parliament amongst others, we advise on legislation, always advocating for your human rights.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission protects the rights of everyone in Northern Ireland.

By monitoring and advising the Northern Ireland Executive, the United Kingdom Government and Westminster Parliament amongst others, we advise on legislation, always advocating for your human rights.

When the UK left the EU in 2020, the UK Government promised to protect human rights and equality in NI.

Article 2(1) of the Windsor Framework is a UK government commitment to ensure that certain human rights and safeguards will not be reduced in NI because of Brexit.

This means that some rights in NI cannot be weakened /reduced below the levels that the UK agreed to when it was an EU member. It also means NI must continue to keep up with any changes the EU makes to increase rights under 6 key equality laws. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and Equality Commission for Northern Ireland were given new responsibilities as the ‘Dedicated Mechanism’ to oversee these rights.

As part of the Dedicated Mechanism, we review and advise on new laws being developed by the NI Assembly or Westminster, across a range of areas including discrimination, immigration and justice. We also use our legal powers to take or support legal action where decisions or laws breach your rights.

We also work in partnership with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. This ‘Joint Committee’ was established under the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. Together, the 3 Commissions work to address rights on the island of Ireland after Brexit.