Submissions Archives

CAJ regularly responds to public consultations with submissions.

Sep

Submission to UN Human Rights Council on UK impunity proposals for the NI conflict

17/09/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

The UN Human Rights Council has been examining concerns related to the Northern Ireland Office’s impunity proposals. In recent months, the UK has unilaterally departed from the provisions of the 2014 Stormont House Agreement (SHA). Instead, the UK now proposes introducing legislation that would include a statute-bar on investigating conflict related incidents, along with an...

Jul

Written evidence on the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill

20/07/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

We have drafted written evidence in response to a call from the House of Commons General Committee on the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill. Our response mostly focuses on Clause 5 of the bill, which concerns the ‘Petition of Concern’ mechanism. We reflect on the proposed reforms to the Petition of...

Jun

Written Evidence on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

28/06/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ has provided written evidence to the introductory inquiry of the House of Lords Sub-Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. The Protocol is a key element of the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU. The focus of our submission is specifically on the current situation regarding the UK commitment under Article 2 (“Rights...

Jun

Written Evidence on the experience of minority ethnic and migrant people in Northern Ireland

24/06/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ has provided written evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on its inquiry into the ‘The experience of minority ethnic and migrant people in Northern Ireland’. At the time of the 2011 census, it was found that Northern Ireland was the least ethnically diverse part of the UK. Nonetheless, a significant percentage of the...

Jun

Briefing note on the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill: The Petition of Concern and Stormont’s’ other safeguards and vetoes

22/06/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

This briefing note was prepared for the Second Reading of the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill in the UK House of Commons. The bill deals with the Petition of Concern and a range of other assorted procedural issues related to devolution. Our briefing welcomes any move to seek to return the Petition...

Jun

The Right to Protest and NI Coronavirus regulations

07/06/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

During the pandemic, the main regulations impacting the right to protest have been the ‘restrictions on gatherings’ and (when still in force) the ‘stay at home’ rule. At times, there has been no specific exemption to accommodate protests, making them all effectively illegal. Currently (since 24 May 2021), provisions are in place allowing outdoor gatherings...

May

Response to the PSNI consultation and EQIA on the temporary use of spit and bite guards

20/05/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

A Spit and Bite Guard (SBG) is a controversial mesh hood, used to prevent a person from spitting on or biting police officers or staff. SBG were introduced by the PSNI, without consultation, last year as a temporary measure for the duration of the Coronavirus pandemic. The use of SBGs constitutes a use of force....

Apr

CAJ cautions against the use of vaccine passports

15/04/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases, Submissions

CAJ concerned vaccine passport app could discriminate and be ID card by stealth CAJ has urged the NI Executive to consider the human rights implications of requiring people in Northern Ireland to carry a vaccine ‘passport’ to prove they have been immunised against Covid-19. We have analysed the proposals for a ‘digital certificate’ of vaccination,...

Apr

Submission to the Committee of Ministers in relation to the supervision of the cases concerning the action of the security forces in Northern Ireland (February 2021)

01/04/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ regularly makes submissions the Committee of Ministers on the ‘McKerr group of cases’ concerning the actions of the security forces in the 1980s and 1990s in Northern Ireland. Our recent submissions have charted the unilateral abandonment by the UK of commitments to implement the legacy mechanisms contained within the Stormont House Agreement (SHA), and...

Mar

CAJ responds to review of the Human Rights Act

04/03/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ has responded to the Independent Human Rights Act Review. The review was set up by the UK government to ‘consider how the Human Rights Act (HRA) is working in practice and whether any change is needed’. We believe is important to see this review in the context of a long list of attempts by...

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