Our Chief Commissioner has attended a Holocaust Memorial Day Trust event at the Millennium Forum Theatre & Conference Centre where he heard powerful testimony from Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor who was imprisoned in the camps of both Westerbork and Theresienstadt. #ThePowerOfWords #HMD2018

Tánaiste Simon Coveney met with the North-South Joint Committee, made of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission today in Dublin. The meeting focused on human rights and equality implications of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. The Tánaiste discussed Human Rights under the Good Friday Agreement and the Brexit implications of same. His full statement is available here: https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2018/january/north-south-joint-committee/ Pictured: Our Chief Commissioner, Les Allamby, and Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Emily Logan, with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney.

Our Chief Commissioner Les Allamby with the Chief Commissioner of Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Emily Logan, in today's meeting of the Joint Committee. Today's meeting focuses on the human rights and equality implications of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Today, the North-South Joint Committee made up of ourselves and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will meet with Tánaiste Simon Coveney in Dublin to address the human rights and equality impacts of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Given the importance of greater collaboration following the UK referendum vote to leave the European Union, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has committed additional resources to support the Joint Committee’s work. The North-South Joint Committee is hopeful that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be provided with necessary support from the UK Government to do likewise. Our Chief Commissioner, Les Allamby, has said: “The UK government’s decision to leave the European Union has thrown the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreements aim of ensuring an equivalent level of human rights protection across the island of Ireland into sharp relief. The potential loss of the EU Fundamental Charter of Rights alongside the continuing absence of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland means Human Rights protections could be heading in the wrong direction. Twenty years on, holding human rights and equality protections remains a vital underpinning of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. We call on the UK Government to put the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on an equal footing with the Irish Commission and provide adequate funding to carry out this vital work.” http://www.nihrc.org/news/detail/north-south-joint-committee-to-focus-on-human-rights-and-equality-impacts-o

Today was the Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum's first meeting of 2018. Nuala Griffiths from the Strategic Investment Board NI delivered a presentation on 'Buy Social - Responsible Procurement'. We were delighted that Judith Robertson, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission was in attendance. She spoke about developing a National Action Plan, and the Scottish experience of same. #bizhumanrights

Today we had a great meeting with Michael Boyd from the Irish Football Association Foundation at their @OfficialIrishFA HQ at Windsor Park. It was brilliant to hear about the valuable work they are doing. ⚽🏟️🏆👟

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission team spent time today drafting up our Business Plan for 2018-19. Great discussion and lots of ideas and plans for the year ahead #humanrights

Guest piece about the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission annual statement by our Chief Commissioner Les in this month’s Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) bulletin https://goo.gl/y2YcKW #AnnualStatement2017 #humanrights

As the EU (Withdrawal) Bill returns to Parliament this week, we are a signatory to this TheGuardian.com open letter warning that human rights and equality protections must not be weakened:

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission calls for action on the current crisis in our health service in today’s Belfast Telegraph - https://goo.gl/P95oxH Three years after the Commission initiated the first human rights inquiry into healthcare in emergency departments, there has been no movement to introduce a minimum care standard. “Our inquiry on health care in emergency departments recommended the development of dedicated ED minimum care standards rooted in human rights to provide a benchmark for patient experience.” “Political leadership and responsible decision making is urgently needed to turn the tide.” You can read our 2015 report on health care in emergency departments here: https://goo.gl/8Y9o56

A happy new year from the NIHRC! As we start into 2018, here's a look back at a few highlights from last year.

Here’s our Chief Commissioner Les Allamby with a holiday message from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission #humanrights