The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has responded to the UK Government’s proposed Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill.
Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick commented:
“The Commission has been involved in this issue for many years. It is one that has continued to cause distress to people already traumatised by conflict.
We have always approached this issue mindful of the sensitivities and possibility for further harm. We promised the government that we would consider any proposals put forward in an objective manner and without any preconceived ideas. We also promised, however, that we would, as we are obliged, hold the government’s draft legislation to the standards of domestic and international human rights law.
We have not had an acceptable amount of time or prior consultation to enter a detailed written response today but having worked over-time and at speed we are sure that this Bill is substantially, in fact almost certainly fatally, flawed.
We will, as soon as able, publish our detailed analysis but draw attention immediately to the incompatibility with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and therefore the breach of the Human Rights Act 1998 that will surely follow.”
ENDS
Link to their website and response here.
