COVID-19 Archives

Nov

Evidence to Ad Hoc Committee on a Bill of Rights from CAJ

20/11/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ has given evidence to the Ad Hoc Committee on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland on the challenges facing Northern Ireland and the case for a Bill of Rights. Our evidence explains how a rights-based approach in general, and a Bill of Rights in particular, could assist in meeting the existential challenges facing...

Nov

Covid Conversations – Human Rights in a Pandemic

20/11/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeEvents

The Equality Coalition, Transitional Justice Institute, and Human Rights Consortium are running a series of webinars this summer, autumn and winter examining human rights issues that have been brought into sharp focus by the COVID-19 pandemic. All webinars in the ‘Covid Conversations’ series will take place via Zoom. Early registration is advised as each event...

Nov

Stormont’s vetoes in the context of a pandemic – An Equality Coalition briefing note

18/11/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

In 2019, the Equality Coalition’s Manifesto for a Rights Based Return to Power Sharing called for a new agreement to remove those political vetoes within the NI Executive that are not based on (and have conflicted with) equality and rights duties, and as such contributed to the destabilisation and collapse of the NI Executive in...

Sep

Equality Proofing the Return to School – Briefing paper from the Equality Coalition

08/09/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

The Covid-19 pandemic has had far reaching impacts on all aspects of NI society, not least education, with most pupils being withdrawn from school for five months due to the strict lockdown period and the subsequent summer break. As staff and students begin the new school term, we must ensure that their return to school...

Sep

CAJ statement on the appointment of six new human rights commissioners

03/09/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

CAJ notes the appointment of six new Commissioners to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), who each took up office on 1 September 2020. CAJ hopes they will demonstrate their firm commitment to upholding international human rights standards under the leadership of the Chief Commissioner, Les Allamby, not only as we attempt to emerge...

Jun

Amnesty, CAJ & UNISON call for public inquiry into care home deaths

23/06/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

Amnesty International UK, CAJ, and UNISON are calling for a public inquiry into the handling of Covid-19 in care and nursing homes in Northern Ireland with particular reference to very high number of deaths of residents. The call comes following the resignation of all nine board members of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA),...

Jun

CAJ and Amnesty International UK briefing note on amendments to the Health Protection Regulations and their application to the Black Lives Matter protests

18/06/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ and Amnesty International UK have jointly produced a briefing note in response to amendments to the NI Coronavirus regulations, which extended broad and vaguely drafted enforcement powers to outdoor gatherings. Of particular concern was the application of the regulations to the Black Lives Matter protests that took place in Belfast and Derry on Saturday...

Jun

Amnesty and CAJ raise concerns over laws restricting protest ahead of assembly debate

16/06/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

Human rights organisations concerned at last-minute law changes and PSNI action against Black Lives Matter protests Amnesty International UK and the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) have written to every MLA – in advance of a debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly today (Tuesday 16 June 2020) – to outline concerns about law...

Jun

Passenger quarantine and the Common Travel Area (CTA): The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

12/06/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

A 14 day self-isolation period for incoming passengers to the UK and Ireland has been under discussion for some time to prevent imported cases of Covid-19. CAJ has published a previous briefing paper exploring the complex issues related to operating such a system within the Common Travel Area (the open border zone consisting of the...

Jun

Laws restricting protest in Northern Ireland unacceptable

08/06/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

CAJ joins with Amnesty International UK to condemn the issuing of fines at Black Lives Matter (BLM) rallies in NI The last-minute introduction of fines against peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in Northern Ireland over the weekend is “unacceptable”, Amnesty International UK and CAJ said today. The human rights organisations have raised concerns that enforcement...

1 2