NIHRC Welcomes New Commissioners

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Board met today for its monthly meeting.

We recently welcomed four new part-time Commissioners, who join Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick and fellow Commissioners in supporting and strengthening our work to protect and promote human rights across Northern Ireland.

On the photo from left to right: Justin Kouame, Mairead Holder, Alyson Kilpatrick, Gavin Gray, Dr Jackie Witherow, Dr Ben Warwick, Dr Orla Drummond. 

Notes to editors:

1.    Find out more about our Commissioners: https://nihrc.org/about-us/who-we-are/our-people 
2.    Learn more about the Commission's work: https://nihrc.org/our-work 
3.    Read more about the new Commissioner appointments and the terms of appointment on the Northern Ireland Office website here: Secretary of State announces appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission - GOV.UK. 
4.    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. 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.
5.    Read more about the work of the Commission in its latest Annual Report: Publication - Annual report and accounts 2025-2026 | Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Read about the Commission’s Annual Statement: Publication - Annual Human Rights Statement 2025 | Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.