Promoting Justice /
Protecting Rights

Submissions

CAJ regularly responds to government public consultations.  A full list of our consultations submissions is available below.

Accountable Policing and Justice

Equality

Combating Impunity

Freedom of Expression

Protecting Human Rights and the Peace Settlement

International

17/09/2021

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

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...
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20/07/2021

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

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...
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28/06/2021

Written Evidence on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

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...
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24/06/2021

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

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...
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22/06/2021

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

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...
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07/06/2021

The Right to Protest and NI Coronavirus regulations

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...
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20/05/2021

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

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....
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15/04/2021

CAJ cautions against the use of vaccine passports

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,...
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01/04/2021

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)

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...
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04/03/2021

CAJ responds to review of the Human Rights Act

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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02/03/2021

Equality Coalition submission on Programme for Government outcomes and draft budget

The Equality Coalition has finalised its submission on the Programme for Government (PfG) outcomes and draft budget (including departmental screenings/EQIAs). Given their interlinking nature, this submission responds to a number of different, concurrent consultations at once. The submission examines the rights and equality implications of current plans, including whether the Section 75 statutory equality duty...
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25/02/2021

Written evidence on the Citizenship and Passport Processes in Northern Ireland

The NI Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into the ‘Citizenship and Passport Processes in Northern Ireland’, and is seeking written evidence on the following three questions: The interaction between UK nationality law and Articles 1 (v) and (vi) of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and any engagement with the ECHR; Whether the Government should consider...
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08/02/2021

Submission responding to the UK’s latest update on its compliance with European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

CAJ has provided comment on the UK’s official response to the 5th report on its adherence to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML). Our submission is limited to commentary on the UK’s commitments in Northern Ireland  under the ECRML, namely those related to the promotion and protection of Irish and Ulster Scots....
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02/02/2021

Model Bill Team submission to the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice Reparations and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence is drafting a follow-up report to examine to what extent the UK has implemented recommendations made based on an official visit to the country in 2016. Civil society groups and national human rights institutions have been given an opportunity to...
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18/01/2021

Post-Brexit access to European Health Insurance Card rights for people in Northern Ireland

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a free card that provides access to medically necessary (state) healthcare during a temporary stay in either an EU member state or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost as an insured resident of that country. In general terms, this...
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