There are a number of imminent rights protections gaps that will result from Brexit. Some of these areas were to be addressed in the context of the EU-UK future relationship negotiations yet seem to have fallen off the agenda as the end of the transition period approaches. The pandemic, alongside a perception such matters have...

From the recent immigration white paper (published December 2018), it is clear that the UK government intends to move towards an online immigration system, with applications, visa documents, and status checking taking place digitally.  At the UK border, the use of e-gates and an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme is proposed. What the immigration white...

A series of webinars organised by the Equality Coalition, the Transitional Justice Institute, and the Human Rights Consortium designed to start important conversations about the human rights implications of the pandemic for people in Northern Ireland. All events will take place on Zoom. The Right to Childcare – Thursday 6 August, 10am The Executive has...

Following the case of Emma DeSouza, from August 2020 immigration rules will change to allow a “relevant person of Northern Ireland” and their family members to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, expanding the scheme to a new group of people who were previously excluded. Through our Immigration Project, we have produced guidance to assist...

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...

Inside this issue: In a series of interrelated articles, this special edition of Just News examines the Covid-19 crisis and its impact on rights and equality in Northern Ireland. Contributors include CAJ Director, Brian Gormally; NIHRC Chief Commissioner, Les Allamby; Women’s Sector Lobbyist, Rachel Powell; ICCL Executive Director, Liam Herrick; and the Special Rapporteur on...

The changes to the Immigration Rules today follow the commitments made by the British Government in the New Decade, New Approach agreement of 9 January 2020 and the earlier review promised by Theresa May into Irish citizens in NI being joined by their family members. These changes are driven by the legal challenge by Emma...

Last year, the UK submitted its sixth periodic report on its compliance with the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. All states signed up this convention – including the UK – have a duty to prevent and investigate torture, support victims of torture, and ensure perpetrators are punished....

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...