CAJ welcomes call for rethink on legacy from Westminster Committee
November 3, 2022CAJ has welcomed criticism of the UK government’s legacy bill by a Westminster Committee, which has found the legislation is unlikely to comply with human rights law.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights, which is made up of cross-party members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, has raised concerns that the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill may not be compatible with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) in a report published today. The report urges the UK government to reconsider its whole approach to legacy.
CAJ’s Director Brian Gormally commented: “This report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights vindicates many of the concerns CAJ and others have consistently raised about this legislation. It is a threat to the rule of law, is in breach of international human rights obligations, and, as such, must be scrapped. Victims and survivors deserve truth, justice, and accountability, but this Bill is intended to shut down that down. It must be replaced with human rights compliant legislation without further delay.”
What exactly does the report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights say?
The report (on page 36) urges the Government to reconsider its whole approach to legacy and to put forward legislation which ensures:
- Investigations are independent, effective, timely, involve next of kin, and are subject to public scrutiny;
- Perpetrators of serious human rights violations are held to account;
- That all possible avenues for the pursuit of justice and the provision of an effective remedy are available to victims and their families.
Please direct media enquiries to Robyn Scott, Communications & Equality Coalition Coordinator on robyn@caj.org.uk or 075 1994 1203. CAJ Director Brian Gormally is available for interview.