Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 30
🎧 Have you listened to the new season of the Rights at the Finish Line podcast?

If you are interested in sports, human rights and how both can be used to make a positive impact in our society, this is the ideal podcast for you.

During this series, we spoke to:  
🟣 Jahswill aul Stephenson, @NSPCC Sport
🟣 Orla Smyth, @TEAM_TSNI
🟣 Jim Donnelly, @ActiveCN

Listen to them on Spotify at the link below, or wherever you get your podcasts.

open.spotify.com/show/0J1hgnJwX…
Promotional graphic for the ‘Rights at the Finish Line’ podcast. The image features a blue-tinted photograph of female athletes competing in a relay race, A colourful flame logo appears above the large white podcast title. The background features geometric blue and yellow shapes.
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 29
Did you know we advise the NI Assembly on new legislation?

When Members of the Legislative Assembly introduce Private Members' Bills, we review the proposed legislation and provide independent advice and recommendations on its human rights implications. We may also give evidence as they scrutinise a Bill.

This helps ensure human rights considerations are taken into account when new laws are developed.

👉 Swipe through to learn more.
Graphic with a purple background. Black text on a yellow coloured shape says How do we advise on Private Members’ Bills. Text underneath says Advice to government. Graphic also contains NIHRC logo. Graphic with a purple background. Half of the graphic is taken up by a picture of Stormont. Text underneath says what is a Private Members Bill. A Private Member’s Bill is a proposed law introduced by an individual member of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.
Graphic with a purple background. Text on the graphic says How is NIHRC involved? Text underneath says When Private Members’ Bills are proposed, we review the content of the Bill and make recommendations to ensure they are human rights compliant. We may provide written advice or give evidence during Assembly Committee scrutiny.Graphic with a purple background. Text on the graphic says why do we do this? Text underneath says By scrutinising proposed legislation and providing independent advice, we help ensure human rights considerations are part of the law-making process.
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 29
Replying to @NIHRC
Graphic with a purple background. Text on the graphic says This helps support stronger human rights protections for everyone in Northern Ireland. Graphic also shows a map of NI. Graphic with a purple background. Text on the graphic says Find out more. Text underneath says To read our latest advice to government and find out more, scan the QR code, or visit our website. A QR Code on the graphic links to NIHRC website nihrc.org/our-work/advice-to-government
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 28
📢We’re hiring!

NIHRC invites applications for the post of: Senior Policy and Research Officer – 2 Posts (Permanent) (Full-time).

Applications close at 10am on Monday 16 November 2026

For full details and application see: nihrc.org/about-us/caree…
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 26
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Board met today for its monthly meeting.

We recently welcomed four new part-time Commissioners, who join Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick and fellow Commissioners in supporting and strengthening our work to protect and promote thern Ireland.

Find out more about our Board and our work: nihrc.org/news/detail/ni…
On the photo from left to right: Justin Kouame, Mairead Holder, Alyson Kilpatrick, Gavin Gray, Dr Jackie Witherow, Dr Ben Warwick, Dr Orla Drummond.
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 23
Did you know the Commission monitors international and regional human rights standards?

Human rights treaties are agreements that governments commit to uphold.

The Commission monitors how these commitments are being implemented in Northern Ireland and reports to bodies such nd the Council of Europe.

This helps track progress, identify areas where improvements are needed and hold governments accountable for the commitments they have made.

Swipe through to learn more.

🔗nihrc.org/our-work/inter…
Graphic with a purple background, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission logo and a bright yellow shape containing the text: “How does the NIHRC help protect human rights? One way is through monitoring international treaties, reporting on progress, and recommending changes to improve rights protections.”Image of the United Nations building in Geneva, with multiple national flags flying outside against a blue sky. White text at the top reads “What is treaty monitoring?” Below, on a purple background, white text explains: “Human rights treaties are agreements that governments commit to uphold. The Commission monitors how these commitments are being implemented in Northern Ireland.”
Graphic with a purple background. White text on the graphic says “What does the commission do?” Bullet points beneath say “Assess progress against human rights standards, Identify gaps in protection, Raise concerns where improvements are needed, Make recommendations to government.” Graphic with a purple background. White text on the graphic says “Why does it matter?” Text underneath says “Treaty monitoring helps ensure governments are held accountable for the human rights commitments they have made.”
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 23
Replying to @NIHRC
Graphic with a purple background. White text on the graphic says “Find out more”. Text underneath says “Explore our briefings, publications and recommendations to government, strengthening human rights protections in Northern Ireland.” A QR Code on the bottom of the image links to https://nihrc.org/our-work/international
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 22
Chief Commissioner, Alyson Kilpatrick, spoke and participated in a panel discussion at the North West Migrants Forum event today to mark Black History Month 2026.

The event “Beyond Division: Leadership, Truth & Belonging in an Age of Online Hate,” heard first-hand accounts from peope of racism and online hate. Thank you to the Northwest Migrants Forum for inviting us to be part of this important conversation.
Three speakers sit on a panel discussion during Black History Month 2026, with microphones and a table in front of them. Behind them are banners for the North West Migrants Forum’s Intercultural Community Café, the Black Heritage in NI: The Hidden History Project, and the Intercultural Cross-border Inclusion Programme.
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 21
How can we ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) is developed and used in a way that protects human rights?

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has submitted its response to the Northern Ireland Draft Artificial Intelligence Strategy, highlighting the importance of the heart of AI governance.

👉 Swipe through to explore some of our key recommendations, and read our full response on the NIHRC website: nihrc.org/publication/de…
Graphic with a purple background and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission logo. White text says NIHRC response to Northern Ireland Draft Artificial Intelligence Strategy.Graphic with a purple background. White text says One of the Commission’s core functions is to provide advice to Government. Recently, we provided a written response to the Northern Ireland Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Swipe to read some of our key points.
Graphic with a purple background. A title in white text says Fairness and transparency. White text underneath says “Human rights compliance must be central to all AI use, and the AI Strategy should explicitly embed this principle. We recommend that the AI Strategy includes measures and actions that ensure human rights compliance is built into AI models throughout their lifecycle. To do so, all human rights protected by international treaties signed by the UK should be considered, with particular focus on their effects on marginalised communities. It would also be important to look at that from a gender perspective.”Graphic with a purple background. A title in white says Human Oversight. White text underneath says “We welcome the AI Strategy’s focus on human oversight and emphasise that this is a key aspect of effective AI Governance. Human oversight must be meaningful rather than symbolic. Humans must remain in charge of, exercise independent judgement over and remain accountable for AI. This is particularly important in the public sector, where Section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 requires public authorities and entities carrying out public functions to act in a way that is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR)”
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 21
Replying to @NIHRC
Graphic with a purple background. A title in white says Accountability and Redress. White text underneath says “This element is key. It is directly connected to the human right to access an adequate remedy for human rights violations. Article 13 of the ECHR specifically requires the State to ensure there are remedies that are accessible and effective in law and practice, which are capable of addressing the substance of a complaint, and provide appropriate and adequate redress. The AI Strategy should therefore provide for accessible and effective redress mechanisms.”Graphic with a purple background. A title in white says Environmental Sustainability. White text underneath says “The right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is an internationally recognised human right. In our briefing paper ‘Human Rights and Climate Change’, we explore how the UK’s human rights obligations apply to climate change and environmental degradation. Climate change directly and indirectly engages and may infringe human rights, including the rights to life, housing, water and sanitation, food, health, development, private and family life, and an adequate standard of living. We agree that proportional use should be paramount, but suggest that some concrete actions should be included in the AI Strategy to ensure this is achieved in practice.”
Graphic with a purple background. White text says Explore the Commission’s full response to the Northern Ireland Artificial Intelligence Strategy on our website. A QR Code on the image links to https://nihrc.org/publication/detail/nihrc-response-to-the-ni-executive-draft-ai-strategy
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission retweeted
Commissioner for Victims of Crime NI@CVOCNI
Oct 9
If you've been the victim of a crime, or reported a crime and haven't responded to one of our surveys in the past two years - we want to hear your voice.

cvocni.org/victim-survey
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 20
Today's NI Sport & Human Rights Forum explored disability, sport and human rights, with insightful presentations from the @NIHRC policy team, para-cyclist Christopher Burns and @visionsportsirl. The Forum is chaired by @GoTeamNI.

Presenters shared their personal experiences accebility, the human rights frameworks concerning sport and disability, and the initiatives in place in clubs and organisations to ensure inclusion and non-discrimination for all, regardless of ability.

Vision Sport Ireland presented a Shared Island Sport Report regarding engagement in sport of people who are blind or partially sighted across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties: visionsports.ie/shared-island-…

Thank you to our presenters and all participants for the important discussion.
Several people sit at a boardroom table, looking at a large screen in the background with a powerpoint presentation on it. More people are on the screen as online participants.
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 17
Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, a day marked by the UN to recognise the importance of ending poverty to protect human rights and dignity for people worldwide.

Check out the slides below to find out more about the Commission’s work addressing s issues in NI 👇
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 16
Over the past few weeks, Commission staff undertook a range of engagement activities with stakeholders and groups to promote human rights, including:

🟣 Delivered human rights workshops to students at Lumen Christi College and Mount Lourdes Grammar School as part of Good part in the Sustainable Development Goals roadshow.
🟣 Attended the All-Party group on Sport and Physical Recreation.
🟣 Attended the European regional consultation with @Ganhri1 and the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change.
🟣 Held a meeting with @HomelessNI, @UofGlasgow and @UlsterUni about the People’s Justice Research Programme on ‘Temporary Accommodation and the Equality and Human Rights Framework: Working with Communities.
An image of NIHRC staff presenting to a hall of students. An image of seven students and two NIHRC staff standing in a row, smiling.
An image of a person presenting to a room. A presentation on a screen shows an image of the Sustainable Development Goals. An image of people sitting around tables during an All-Party Group.
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 16
🎧Have you listened to our latest Shared Goals podcast episode yet?

“So, when we talk about the human rights of older persons, we are really talking about equality before the law. Autonomy, participation, health, housing, social protection, freedom from violence and many, many g to every human being throughout life.”

Released to mark the International Day of Older Persons, this episode features Zvezdan Pirtošek, United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, discussing the human rights challenges older people face.

Topics include:

🟣Ageism
🟣Discrimination in healthcare, housing, employment
🟣Autonomy
🟣Loneliness
🟣Digital exclusion
🟣Poverty
🟣Social protection
🟣Violence against older persons

The conversation explores how a human rights-based approach can help address these barriers and enable older persons to claim and exercise their rights; as well as developments on a legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons.

Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2QGaW3…

You can also find the episode wherever you get your podcasts.

@UN_SPExperts @UNHumanRights @UN_HRC
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Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
@NIHRC
Oct 12
Our Chief Commissioner, Alyson Kilpatrick, was pleased to speak at the XVII Warsaw Human Rights Seminar, hosted today at the historic Palace of the Commonwealth in Warsaw.

This year’s seminar focuses on a critical modern challenge: “Justice in the Digital Era: Balancing and the Right to a Fair Trial under the European Convention on Human Rights”.

🎥 Watch the discussions live on YouTube: 17th Warsaw Human Rights Seminar: youtube.com/watch?v=pgXJli…
An image of NIHRC Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick speaking into a microphone. An image of a panel of four people sitting in a row. Chief commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick is sitting on the right hand side holding a microphone. A screen in the background displays a presentation with the title ‘The Role of the European Court of Human Rights in protecting Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence’.
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