Publications

Submission by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of the United Kingdom - Mid-term Report

What is the Universal Periodic Review?

The UK takes part in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). This is a peer review process conducted by the UN Human Rights Council to assess the human rights situation in every UN Member State. It gives States the opportunity to declare the actions they have taken to improve the human rights situation in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights.

The UPR assesses the extent to which states are putting human rights into practice, looking at each state’s human rights commitments as set out in:

• The UN Charter

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• The UN human rights treaties that each state has ratified

• Domestic commitments, such as national human rights policies

• Relevant international humanitarian law (which regulates the conduct of war)

The UPR takes place once every five years. All 193 UN Member States are subject to this process, which aims to enable National Human Rights Institutions and civil society organisations to discuss the human rights situation with UN Member States. The UN website has information on how to participate. Further information on the UPR and civil society participation can also be found on UPR Info.

Mid-term reporting is a key component of the UPR implementation phase. Although voluntary, it plays a crucial role in monitoring human rights commitments between review cycles; helping to assess progress, identify gaps, and enhance accountability. Mid-term reports also allow national actors, including civil society, to showcase the steps taken toward implementing UPR recommendations.

Following the publication of the UK Government’s Mid-Term Report for the 4th cycle of the UPR, this is the NIHRC’s independent assessment of the UK’s progress on meeting the UPR recommendations for the UK during the 4th UPR cycle.

In this submission, the NIHRC focused on five key issues that are particularly urgent: (i) commitment to the ECHR; (ii) dealing with the legacy of the past, (iii) hate crime, (iv) immigration and asylum, refugees and migrants; and (v) anti-poverty strategy. The NIHRC monitors the full range of human rights issues in Northern Ireland (NI) through its Annual Statement. You can read the 2025 Annual Statement here.

Summary of recommendations

Constitutional framework (Commitment to the ECHR)

• The NIHRC recommends that the UK Government ensure its stated commitment to the ECHR and the Human Rights Act 1998 is effectively reflected in the legal system. The UK Government should actively emphasise the importance of the ECHR and the Human Rights Act 1998 to the Rule of Law in the UK, particularly in relation to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and the peace process in NI.

Dealing with the legacy of the past

• The NIHRC recommends that the UK Government ensures that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill is victim-centred. It should ensure effective investigations and prosecutions of alleged unlawful killings and serious injuries. Additionally, the Bill must comply with Articles 2 (right to life) and 3 (freedom from torture) of the ECHR. Compliance with Windsor Framework Article 2, taking into account the minimum standards in the EU Victims’ Directive should also be ensured.

Hate crime

• The NIHRC recommends that the NI Executive, prioritises the introduction of comprehensive and consolidated hate crime legislation, in line with the Marrinan Review recommendations and ongoing consultation outcomes. The legislation should ensure full compliance with Windsor Framework Article 2 and relevant international obligations, including the EU Victims’ Directive, and adopt a victim-centred, rights-based approach to addressing hate crime.

Immigration and asylum, refugees and migrants

• The NIHRC recommends that the UK Government repeal all legal provisions that discriminate against migrants and limit the rights of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, specifically those in the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. All asylum applications in the UK, including NI, should be processed in compliance with international human rights and Windsor Framework Article 2 standards, particularly considering the trauma many asylum seekers face before arriving in the UK.
  

• Furthermore, the NIHRC recommends that the UK Government ensures that any proposed reform of the UK Migration and Asylum Framework, through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, complies with the UK's international human rights obligations and Windsor Framework Article 2, and there is no diminution of protections for refugees and people seeking asylum in NI.
  

• The NIHRC calls on the UK Government to engage in evidence-based dialogue on immigration, actively promote a climate of mutual respect and intercultural dialogue, and publicly condemn instances of hate speech in public and political discourse, including online. The NIHRC also calls for the development and implementation of awareness campaigns that highlight the benefits of migration, as well as the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers. These efforts aim to address fear, stigma, and discrimination, ensuring that all individuals can fully enjoy their human rights without facing discrimination based on national origin, race, or nationality.

Anti-poverty strategy

• The NIHRC reiterates its call for the NI Executive, to adopt and implement a comprehensive, rights based anti-poverty strategy for NI, with clear targets, indicators and monitoring mechanisms.