NI Human Rights Commission delivers six workshops in Clounagh Junior High School

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has delivered human rights workshops to Clounagh Junior High School in Portadown, Co. Armagh.

The NIHRC led six interactive sessions for pupils in Year 9 at the school. The workshops highlighted how human rights are for everyone, with the students exploring what human rights they have, how rights engage with sports and business, and the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick said:

“We were delighted to visit Clounagh Junior High School and talk to the students about their human rights. There are a number of human rights issues which affect young people, many of which we address in our Annual Statement each year.

Taking time to discuss these issues with young people is a key part of our remit to protect and promote human rights. The workshops in Clounagh were a fantastic opportunity for us to do that.

I want to thank the staff at Clounagh for inviting us, and the students for their participation and enthusiasm in the workshops. We hope to be back again soon.”

Shannen Gass, teacher at Clounagh, said:

“We invited the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to deliver these workshops as they tied in perfectly with our Year 9 Citizenship curriculum. Our pupils are currently studying human rights, and this was a great opportunity for them to engage directly with experts who could share real-life examples and experiences.

The workshops helped bring the topic to life, encouraged critical thinking, and gave pupils a deeper understanding of how human rights issues affect people locally and globally. It also sparked some really thoughtful discussions in class afterwards.”

ENDS

More information:

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.

Read the Annual Statement 2024 here: Publication - Annual Human Rights Statement 2024 | Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

If you are interested in learning more about our workshops for post-primary students, please contact info@nihrc.org.