NIHRC Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick's Speech at the Great Belfast Picnic 2026

My name is Alyson Kilpatrick - I am the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

I am here with my colleagues. We have a stall over there.

Do visit, we’d love to see you and make new friends.

Also with me are my family and Teagan, my red setter, who is the diva of the family, back for another year.

I will keep her away from the food!

We are delighted and honoured to be here.

You have always welcomed us and been so hospitable, thank you.

This is a celebration of World Refugee Day, and a celebration of everything that we have gained, as a result of people moving and choosing to make this place their home.

We are lucky to have you.

While the reasons for people having to move cannot be celebrated – each represents a tragedy in a family – if you seek sanctuary here, we are undoubtedly the beneficiaries.

Unfortunately, people needing to seek asylum, is a story that is ancient and persistent. It is the nature of the world.

There is nothing new in it, and there is nothing to fear from it.

However, fear is precisely what is stoked up, to divide us and to weaken us.

Those who stoke fear, also warn against human rights, as if the basic fact of equality and human dignity, is more than we can tolerate.

Not only can we tolerate it, we embrace it.

It makes us all stronger, more fulfilled and more successful.

It is a message that we so often repeat that there is a danger that it loses its impact. Repeat it we must.

If we take pride in our own history and our claims to be a rights-based society we must extend that same respect regardless of how or when people joined us.

Human rights are very simple – at their core – they mean that every human being is precious and needs not prove their value.

They mean that the same fundamental rights are afforded to every one of us and, if we cannot access those rights, then we are helped to access them.

At the Human Rights Commission we return again and again to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted as a direct response to the conflict across a world that saw such atrocity that the whole of Europe was on its knees.

It was drafted over three quarters of a century ago.

It marked a turning point - people who survived the world war mourned the loss of loved ones and the loss of humanity itself but resolved to prevent the same ever happening again.

Millions were lost, millions forced out of their homes and forced to move.

The Universal Declaration was a hard-headed, practical response by leaders who knew what they were doing.

The Refugee Convention followed very quickly after the Universal Declaration.

Also drafted by hard-headed leaders who were trying to rebuild their countries, the Refugee Convention made it clear why it was necessary.

It was developed along the same principles as the Universal Declaration but in recognition that refugees are critically vulnerable, throughout their journey and at the point of seeking asylum somewhere.

The UK and Ireland have signed up to both.

They weren’t forced into it, but did so willingly because they knew it would keep us decent, safe and able to flourish.

It is as necessary today as it ever was.

I don’t need to tell you that we see an increase in racist hate crime.

The racist violence we have seen is an utter catastrophe.

It shames us and should break the heart of anyone who has any humanity in them.

This picnic is part of a wider series of events. It is for celebration.

The majority of people do celebrate.

This year’s theme of refugee week is ‘courage’.

Every person, who has ever had to seek asylum, or is part of any other minoritised community, understands what that word means.

Courage, was the theme chosen, and I understand why, but it might be said that you have shown more courage than anyone should ever have to.

Perhaps it is better directed to the rest of us. That we need more courage.

Courage to speak up for what is right.

Courage to stand together and show the best of humanity.

Courage to not only tolerate refugees, but embrace them.

What is needed is the courage to put others first, to look outside our own immediate circle.

We are all part of this society and can make it better together.

That is no more than was expected of decent societies 75 years ago.

Please accept my invitation to come to us at the Commission.

We are here for you.

It is your Commission as much as anyone else’s.

To Belfast City of Sanctuary, thank you for inviting me. It is a great privilege. I look forward to it every year.

To everyone who is here already and will join over the course of the day, thank you for having us, and I hope you enjoy the day as much as I will.

Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick