360 Year 8 and Year 9 Students from Banbridge Academy Benefitted from Human Rights Workshops in June

Engagement Staff from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission delivered six interactive Human Rights workshops at Banbridge Academy on the 6^th and 21^st June. The workshops covered the work of the Commission, including Sport, Business, Climate and Human Rights. In total 360 Year 8 and Year 9 Students participated in the workshops.

Andrena McClelland, the Citizenship Co-ordinator at Banbridge Academy said:

“It was great to have the Engagement Team from the NI Human Rights Commission in the School. Our students really enjoyed the workshops and have a much better understanding of their own human rights and how sports or businesses can promote and protect human rights. It was fascinating to hear about the work of the Commission through their Sport and Human Rights Forum helping to make sports more inclusive”.

Chief Commissioner, Alyson Kilpatrick added:

“It is important that we engage directly with young people in schools with a particular focus on promoting understanding and empowering them as rights -holders. I would like to thank Banbridge Academy for inviting us in to work with their students”.

Michael Boyd, Senior Engagement and Communications reflected:

“Banbridge Academy is a fantastic school, the teachers and the students were a joy for us to engage with. Hopefully we can make this an annual engagement with the school”.

Notes to Editors

1. The NI Human Rights Commission is a statutory public body established in 1999 to promote and protect human rights. In accordance with the Paris Principles the Commission reviews the adequacy and effectiveness of measures undertaken by the UK Government to promote and protect human rights, specifically within Northern Ireland.

2. Banbridge Academy is a grammar school in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, founded in 1786.

3. A short video on the work of the Commission can be viewed here.

4. If you are interested in having the Commission speak to your post-primary students, please contact Michael.Boyd@nihrc.org