Hate expression remains prevalent in public space in Northern Ireland, causing significant harm to the communities it targets. Racist and sectarian hate expression is particularly common, but hate expression targeting the LGBT community and women also regularly appears in public space. Because of its intimidating nature, hate expression is a significant contributor to housing segregation,...
CAJ has responded to the consultation launched by the Department of Justice (DoJ) on certain recommendations arising from recent Independent Review of Hate Crime Legislation in NI. DoJ is consulting in two phases; the first (current) stage covers the following issues: aspects of the statutory aggravation hate crime model; the use of a sectarian aggravator...
CAJ has described the ruling (1) published today by the European Court of Human Rights on the Ashers cake case (Lee v. the United Kingdom) as a “missed opportunity”. The ruling declared the case inadmissible on a legal technicality. CAJ, alongside international LBGT and other rights groups (2), was party to third-party intervention in this...
Rights NGOs, the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) and Conradh na Gaelige, have today welcomed the decision by the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards, Dr Melissa McCullough, to investigate a breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct by Junior Minister Gordon Lyons MLA. The complaint relates to the failure of Mr Lyons...
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...
The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 provides for the periodic appointment of a Local Government Boundaries Commissioner to review the names of the district councils and wards within Northern Ireland. The latest review launched in February 2021, with an invitation for proposals. CAJ and leading Irish language NGO, Conradh na Gaeilge (CnaG), wrote to...
CAJ has welcomed the publication of the independent review of hate crime legislation in Northern Ireland. The review, led by Judge Desmond Marrinan, was commissioned by the Department of Justice in 2019. Among the recommendations of the Review are that NI formally adopts ‘hate crimes’ legislation, which would mean all existing criminal offences could also...
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...
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...
Tacking incitement to hatred, in accordance with international human rights standards, is an area of priority focus for CAJ. Partially in response to lobbying from CAJ, an independent review of Northern Ireland’s hate crime legislation was agreed by former Justice Minister Claire Sugden in 2017, before officially launching in 2019 with Judge Desmond Marrinan at...
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