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

01/07/2016

S457 from CAJ to UNCERD on the 21-23 Periodic Reports of the UK

CAJ welcomes the opportunity to submit this report on the UK’s compliance with the International Convention on all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). This submission will focus on five issues in relation to Northern Ireland, in summary: Implications of UK exit from the EU the risks of racial profiling within the (UKIreland) Common Travel Area...

Brexit, UNCERD

01/06/2016

S456 CAJ to the Executive Office of the NI Executive on the draft Programme for Government Framework 2016-2021

Following elections in May 2016 a new NI Executive was formed consisting of the DUP, Sinn Féin and an independent MLA. A draft Programme for Government Framework Document (PfG Framework Document) was then published for consultation by the Executive Office (formerly OFMdFM) on the 27 May 2016 until July 2016. The PfG Framework Document differs...

Fresh Start Agreement, NI Executive

02/04/2016

S455 to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) on the UK’s 6th Periodic Report

Introduction CAJ welcomes the 6th periodic report from the UK government in conformity with its obligation to submit itself regularly to scrutiny by the ICESCR Committee. We hope that the following material will be of help to the Committee in carrying out a full examination of the extent of the UK’s compliance with the Covenant...

Equality, ICESCR, Poverty

01/04/2016

S454 to the Committee of Ministers from CAJ in relation to the supervision of the cases concerning the action of the security forces in Northern Ireland

This Rule 9 communication is for consideration at the 1259th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies in June 2016. CAJ has regularly made Rule 9 communications to the Committee of Ministers on the ‘McKerr group of cases’ that have charted the evolution of the ‘package of measures’ agreed to by the UK further to the above...

Combating Impunity, Committee of Ministers, Stormont House Agreement

02/03/2016

S453 CAJ to the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on the 4th Report of the UK

CAJ welcomed the opportunity to meet with a delegation from the Advisory Committee in Belfast earlier in the month. This written submission focuses on the following areas: Legislative and institutional developments affecting application of the Framework Convention in the domestic legal order: Treatment of treaty-based obligations Minority rights and vetoes in the Northern Ireland settlement...

Equality, FCNM, Poverty

01/03/2016

S452 Written Evidence Submitted to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Brexit and Human Rights in Northern Ireland

Executive Summary The purpose of this contribution is to discuss the effect on human rights protection, in general but in particular in Northern Ireland, if the United Kingdom (UK) votes to leave the European Union (EU). The positive case for the EU in this respect rests on two main pillars: the Charter of Fundamental Rights...

Brexit, Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Protecting Human Rights and the peace settlement

01/02/2016

S451 to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) consultation on the draft proposed PRONI Statutory Rule The Court Files Privileged Access Rules

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) is the sponsor department for the Public Records Office for Northern Ireland (PRONI). The DCAL Minister is currently the minister responsible for decisions on release of records, this is planned to transfer to the new Department of the Communities later in 2016. 3. A consultation was launched...

Accountable Policing and Justice, DCAL, Dealing with the past, PRONI

01/01/2016

S450 to the United Nations Committee Against Torture On the List of Issues for the UK

CAJ files this submission on the List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LoIPR) for the Committee against Torture’s 57th Session from 18 April – 13 May 2016. This is to be read in conjunction with the submission from CAJ on the UK’s 5th periodic report under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or...

Accountable Policing and Justice, Combating Impunity, Torture, UNCAT

03/12/2015

S449 Written Evidence to the Joint Committee on the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill

S449-CAJ-Written-Evidence-to-Joint-Commitee-on-Draft-Investigatory-Powers-Bill-December-2015 CAJ welcomes the opportunity to provide Written Evidence to the Joint Committee on the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill. The bill provides a new framework for the use of investigatory powers, with a focus on surveillance. Outside of the issues with the current bill CAJ wishes to draw attention to other areas of covert policing...

Accountable Policing and Justice, Joint Committee

03/11/2015

S448 to the Committee of Ministers in relation to the supervision of the cases concerning the action of the security forces in Northern Ireland

S448-CAJ-Submission-to-Committee-of-Ministers-November-2015

Accountable Policing and Justice, Combating Impunity, Committee of Ministers

03/09/2015

S446 to Mid Ulster District Council Consultation on the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) of the draft Irish Language Policy

S446-CAJ-response-to-Mid-Ulster-Council-EQIA-Irish-language-policy CAJ has a long track record of involvement in commenting both on Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) processes and the human rights policy framework for the Irish language. CAJ received Mid Ulster Council’s EQIA of the Draft Irish Language Policy and welcomes the opportunity to comment on it. The EQIA appendages the policy itself, the...

Equality, Equia, Mid Ulster Council

03/08/2015

S445 to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) on the List of Issues for the UK’s 6th Periodic Report

S445-CAJ-Submission-to-ICESCR-List-of-Issues-August-2015 This submission covers the following themes: Welfare ‘Reform’ and Northern Ireland (Art. 3, 6, 9, 11, 12) Austerity and Northern Ireland (Art. 3, 6, 9, 11, 12) Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland (Art. 1, 2) Irish language legislation (Art. 1, 2) Abortion legislation in Northern Ireland (Art. 12)

ICESCR, Protecting Human Rights and the peace settlement

03/06/2015

S444 to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the UK’s 7th Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

S444-CAJ-Submission-to-ICCPR-June-2015 CAJ focuses this shadow report on the following matters which are included in the Committee’s List of Issues (LoI) for the UK (CCPR/C/GBR/Q/7, 20 November 2014) and previous Concluding Observations (CO) (CCPR/C/GBR/CO/6 30 July 2008): The planned repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights (Art. 2, LoI...

Accountable Policing and Justice, Equality, ICPPR, Protecting Human Rights and the peace settlement

03/05/2015

S443 to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure consultation on Tograí faoi choinne Bille Gaeilge (Proposals for an Irish Language Bill)

S443-CAJs-submission-to-DCAL-consultation-on-Irish-Language-Bill-May-2015 CAJ welcomes the opportunity to respond to the February 2015 Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) consultation on the Irish language bill. CAJ responded to two previous consultations on the legislation in 2007. International obligations to legislate to protect Irish The treaty-based commitment to legislate for the Irish language is provided for in...

DCAL, Equality, Irish Language

03/05/2015