NIHRC publishes paper on Brexit, health and Article 2 of the Windsor Framework

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has published a new paper on ‘Brexit, Health and its potential impact on Article 2 of the Windsor Framework’. This follows on from our research published last year which identified a range of significant concerns relating to healthcare after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Along with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) is tasked with ensuring that the UK Government meets its commitment to no diminution of equality and human rights in Northern Ireland following EU withdrawal.

The integrated nature of health provision on the island of Ireland means that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU affects Northern Ireland (and Ireland) in a way in which other parts of the UK (and other EU Member States) are not affected. This briefing paper draws on the previous research and makes a number of recommendations on issues such as the Common Travel Area, access to cross-border facilities and frontier workers.

Our recommendations include:

• that the Common Travel Area and rights associated with it are enshrined in a UK-Ireland treaty;
• that steps are taken to ensure that frontier workers continue to enjoy at least the same rights as before the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; and
• that access to cross-border and all-island healthcare for EU and third-country nationals is clear, comprehensive, and enshrined in law.

Speaking about the launch of the paper, NIHRC Chief Commissioner, Alyson Kilpatrick, said:

“Building upon our health research published last year, this paper sets out several of our positions as they relate to healthcare and Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. It also identifies next steps to ensure that access to healthcare is protected in Northern Ireland, and on the island of Ireland, post Brexit. As part of our mandate, and along with colleagues in the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, we will continue to engage with stakeholders, relevant government departments and EU officials on these issues in order to ensure the protection of equality and human rights.”

Read the full briefing paper here: Publication - Briefing Paper & Draft Recommendations on Brexit, Health and its potential impact on Article 2 of the Windsor Framework | Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (nihrc.org)

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