good friday agreement Archives

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

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...

Apr

The unimplemented rights commitments of the peace settlement 23 years on from the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement: A mapping exercise

09/04/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Reports

This new paper from CAJ aims to ‘map’ the status of the principal commitments relating to human rights (including equality) made as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and the subsequent agreements that have emerged during the peace process. Many of these rights-based commitments still remain unimplemented. The paper ‘updates’ the mapping found...

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...

Feb

Written evidence on the Citizenship and Passport Processes in Northern Ireland

25/02/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

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...

Feb

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

02/02/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

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...

Nov

Briefing note for the Biden-Harris Transition Team: Brexit and the protection of the Good Friday Agreement, human rights and equality laws in Northern Ireland

19/11/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

CAJ joins with other civil society groups to present a briefing note on Northern Ireland to the Biden-Harris Transition Team. Representatives of civic society groups from across the island of Ireland welcome the President-elect’s continued support for the Good Friday Agreement, most recently reaffirmed in his congratulatory calls with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Prime...

Oct

Written Evidence to the NI Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on the Bill of Rights from the Equality Coalition Co-Conveners

23/10/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland was first promised in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, but progress towards its development has repeatedly stalled. The establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bill of Rights at Stormont earlier this year represents a fresh attempt to move things forward. On 22 October 2020, CAJ and...

Sep

Civil Society – Internal Market Bill jeopardises Good Friday Agreement

21/09/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

Civil society groups, including CAJ, warn UK government not to threaten Good Friday Agreement through Internal Market Bill. Representatives from a wide range of civil society groups met with officials from the UK Government on Friday (18 September 2020) and registered our strong protest at the terms of the Internal Market Bill, which directly breaches...

Sep

Devolution and the rule of law is threatened by the UK Internal Market Bill warns campaigning groups and trade unions ahead of commons debate