A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

The Belfast Agreement contains a section "Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity", which provides for the Secretary of State to invite the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to advise on the scope for defining rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Rather than abide by this mandate, which it had received from the Secretary of State in March 1999, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission went on to advise on a complete Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, which was eventually released to the public on September 2001 in the Consultation document entitled "Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland".

The Ulster Human Rights Watch immediately voiced its concern regarding this document, and submitted seventeen preliminary questions to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The answers given by the Commission confirmed the threat which the proposed Bill of Rights represents for the law-abiding people of Northern Ireland, as the Ulster Human Rights Watch makes clear in its comments.

The Ulster Human Rights Watch therefore undertook to examine in detail the Consultation document and has exposed its dangers which include being a Charter for terrorism(1 Page). It went on to prepare more in depth comments on the Consultation document(8 Pages). Finally, it produced a full critical analysis of the Consultation document(31 Pages).

In order to ensure the protection of the rights of the people of Northern Ireland, the Ulster Human Rights Watch has already set out the foundations on which a Bill of Rights for Democracy should be built. It will at a later stage, after widespread consultation with the people of Northern Ireland, release its proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

The process used by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for making a Bill of Rights has been proven to be seriously flawed and in favour of the enemies of democracy.

This is why the Ulster Human Rights Watch strongly recommends that no submission should be made to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission until the process is fully transparent, robust, and fully representative of all sections of the community.

We value your views and input to this vital human rights programme and would therefore encourage you to actively participate by initially completing the attached short questionaire (online) or (printable with contact information section).

This will then enable us to keep you directly involved in a dynamic process aimed at replacing the present Charter for Terrorism by a Charter for Democracy in the best interests of all the people of Northern Ireland.

For further information, please contact us at:

Ulster Human Rights Watch,

PO Box 163,

Lisburn,

Northern Ireland,

BT28 3UN,

tel. 07759212861

e-mail:info@ulsterhumanrightswatch.co.uk

We can also provide you with a VHS Video Tape or CD (DVD and computer compatible) giving a presentation of our analysis of the situation of human rights in Northern Ireland at the cost of £ 3 + postage.