Sacred Heart College students hear how human rights are for everyone

Students at Sacred Heart College explored the wide range of human rights we all are entitled to, regardless of age, race, gender, ability or status.

During a visit from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission pupils looked at how issues we see in the news everyday are related to human rights, such as poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, access to health, education and housing.

The human rights workshop was provided to Year 12 pupils as part of their Learning for Life and Work programme. The session highlighted the Commission’s work promoting and protecting human rights in Northern Ireland, including its duties around advice, education, investigation and litigation.

The students discussed how human rights plays a positive role in the worlds of sport and business, being used to combat issues such as racism, accessibility for persons with disabilities and modern slavery and human trafficking.

Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick added:

“We believe there is a pressing need to empower young people to know what their human rights are and how they can use them in their everyday lives. Our educational engagement is a vital tool to achieve this, providing a platform to highlight the Commission’s role in Northern Ireland and the importance of human rights. I would like to thank teachers and staff at Sacred Heart College for hosting us and their warm welcome. I hope we can engage with their young people again in the future. I wish the students all the best with the rest of their studies.”

ENDS

1.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.

2. Sacred Heart College is an all ability, co-educational 11-19 school in Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

3. If you are interested in having the Commission speak to your post-primary students, please contact Michael.boyd@nihrc.org