In performance of its mandate, the Human Rights Commission has carried out a widespread consultation with local political parties, interested organisations and the public at large on what the proposed Bill of Rights should cover and how it should be formulated.
Taking into account the responses received and views expressed, the Commission has published two detailed working papers (Progressing a Bill of Rights, 2004 and Making a Bill of Rights, 2001) setting out its approach to the various issues and its proposals for the drafting of the Bill of Rights.
The Commission has also initiated a series of consultations with national and international experts on the protection of human rights in divided and post-conflict societies. The consultation papers and their various formats are included below:
This document does not reflect the thinking of current Commissioners and has not been endorsed as such. The current thinking of the new Commission can be found in its paper ‘Submission to the Round Table on a Bill Of Rights for Northern Ireland’. It was prepared by the current Commissioners in May 2006 to welcome the establishment of the Bill of Rights Forum and to assist the Forum in its deliberations. It is available on this link.
Progressing a Bill of Rights: An Update – April 2004 (PDF Doc)
Making a Bill of Rights: 2001
This document does not reflect the thinking of current Commissioners and has not been endorsed as such. The current thinking of the new Commission can be found in its paper ‘Submission to the Round Table on a Bill Of Rights for Northern Ireland’. It was prepared by the current Commissioners in May 2006 to welcome the establishment of the Bill of Rights Forum and to assist the Forum in its deliberations. It is available on this link.
Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland - consultation document, September 2001 (Word Doc)
Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland - consultation document, September 2001 (PDF Doc)