What do you
think?
The Bill of
Rights should reflect the needs and hopes of people, not what politicians, public servants, community leaders, or even the
Human Rights Commission think is needed.
In 2002-2003,
the Human Rights Commission conducted an extensive consultation on a Bill of Rights. The Forum is happy to hear more views.
All our contact details are on the back of this leaflet. If you would like more information before you send us your thoughts,
see our website or those of the organisations represented on the Forum.
How
to contact us
Our website
is
www.billofrightsforum.org
There are links
on the site to all of the organisations represented on the Forum.
Write to us
at:
Bill of Rights
Forum
1st
Floor, Interpoint
20-24 York Street
Belfast BT15
1AQ
Email us at:
info@billofrightsforum.org
Phone/fax/text
us on:
tel: 028 9054
4929
fax: 028 9054
4924
text: 07812
351039
The Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum
Under the Good
Friday Agreement, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission must advise the United Kingdom Government on what rights might
be put into a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
The Northern
Ireland Bill of Rights Forum has been established to assist the Human Rights Commission in that responsibility. The Forum
is a multi-party, multi-sectoral body that is broadly representative of the people of Northern Ireland.
What is a Bill of Rights?
A Bill of Rights
is a law protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms to which each person
is entitled.
Those rights
might include the right to life, the right to freedom of religion, the right to freedom of expression, the right to education
or the right to good health care.
Each country’s
Bill of Rights should reflect the particular needs and circumstances of its people.
For examples of different Bills of Rights, see www.billofrightsforum.org and www.caj.org.uk.
Why does
Northern Ireland need one?
Because of the
‘particular circumstances’ of Northern Ireland’s past, people here have seen a need for a new law to protect
our rights and freedoms as a basic building block of a fresh start for everyone.
In this, the
people of Northern Ireland are like other peoples who have emerged from periods of intense violence and conflict.
A Bill of Rights
can help ensure that the injustices of the past are never repeated and that the future provides equality and freedom for all.
Who are we?
The Forum has
29 members: 14 representatives of the political parties, 14 representatives of civic society and an independent chair. The
civic representatives come from the human rights sector, trade unions, business, the churches, the voluntary or community
sector, and organisations of or for children and young people, older people, women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities,
and people of different sexual orientation.
For Forum members,
see www.billofrightsforum.org.
