NI Human Rights Commission publishes on flags' parades and the past

NI Human Rights Commission publishes on flags’ parades and the past
The NIHRC has published the following papers:
• Dealing with Northern Ireland’s Past: Towards a transitional justice approach
• The Display of Flags’ Symbols and Emblems in Northern Ireland
• Parades and Protests in Northern Ireland
NIHRC Interim Chair John Corey said: ‘The Commission has prepared these advices for the Northern Ireland Executive and shared the papers with Dr Richard Haass to assist in his role as Chair of the All- Party Working Group. Copies of the papers have also been made available to the political parties for consideration.
‘In ensuring that decision makers are informed about the relevant human rights laws and standards applying’ the Commission’s aim is that these significant papers will help to keep human rights at the forefront of decision-making and of the process with Dr Haass.’
The papers are available on the Commission’s website (www.nihrc.org).
‘Dealing with Northern Ireland’s Past’ is the result of consultative meetings with numerous organisations and individuals in Belfast in early December 2012’ as well as a review of the literature available and previous consultations undertaken on this subject. This brief report reviews the foundational agreements’ acknowledges the in-depth work undertaken to date on transitional justice’ and the outstanding issues. Objectives of the report are to inform renewed debate and consideration on transitional justice in Northern Ireland and the role that the Commission might play in contributing to this area of work.
The second paper ‘The Display of Flags’ Symbols and Emblems in Northern Ireland’ has been published in order to provide assistance to those charged with decision making in this area. It is intended to act as a technical resource outlining relevant international human rights law ratified by the United Kingdom government and related jurisprudence.
‘Parades and Protest in Northern Ireland’ focuses on the international human rights framework governing the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to other associated rights such as the right to freedom of expression.
ENDS
Further information:
For further information please contact Alice Neeson on: alice.neeson@nihrc.org or 0771 7731873 (mobile).
Notes to editors
1. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body first proposed in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement (1998) and established in 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act (1998). It is answerable to Parliament at Westminster