What is the Human Rights Consortium?
The Human Rights Consortium actively campaigns for a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
The Consortium was established in 2000 to encourage widespread community participation in the Bill of Rights consultation. Provision for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland was originally included in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The Consortium has, over the years, developed into a campaigning organisation, focusing on the need for a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
Its strength comes not only from its 120 strong membership of non-governmental organisations, trade unions and community groups who represents thousands of people across Northern Ireland from a diverse range of constituencies and communities; but also from the members’ firmly held belief that a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights can play a key role in the creation of a better, more just, inclusive and shared Northern Ireland.
The reality of achieving a Bill of Rights is closer than ever with the engagement of a Bill of Rights Forum, who are focusing on March 2008 as the deadline for the submission of their advice on what should be in a Bill of Rights.
What does the Human Rights Consortium do?
The Human Rights Consortium works to promote awareness of and participation in the Bill of Rights process and debate. Its aim is to mobilise widespread popular and political support behind a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights. The Consortium campaigns and lobbies for this in order to protect all in society – particularly the most vulnerable.
The Consortium keeps the Bill of Rights on the political agenda by meeting frequently with both the British and Irish governments and political parties. It also engages in promoting dialogue with wider society such as local communities, churches and civic society.
For information about the governance and funding of the Human Rights Consortium, please contact us.
Join us!
If your organisation believes that a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights can play a fundamental role in the creation to a better, more just, inclusive and shared Northern Ireland, then why not join the Human Rights Consortium?
By simply adding your organisation to the campaign, you will be increasing pressure for a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights!
Once you join, your organisation can be involved as much as you wish. All members are invited to attend monthly meetings of the Consortium, held in members’ offices and are kept informed through regular updates. Members are also able to access a special section of this website restricted to members only.
So if your organisation is non-governmental and non-party political and supports a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland then join us now! Download our membership application form on the Useful Resources page.
Current Members
Action on Medical Negligence Association: Protects and supports the rights of patients; campaigns for an end to medical error cover-ups, and campaigns for an extensive and protective patient safety programme.
Advice NI: Provides free independent information, advice and advocacy in Northern Ireland.
Afro-Community Support Organisation NI: An independent community-based organisation, providing community support and infrastructure to address specific needs of individuals from the African continent, the Afro-Caribbean and other individuals of African descent, in Northern Ireland.
Age Concern NI: Age Concern Northern Ireland is the only regional age organisation governed by Northern Ireland Trustees who seek to represent the interests of older people.
Al-Nisa Assoc. NI: Addresses specific problems facing Muslim women in Northern Ireland. The organisation provides a support network for women who are living in isolation.
Alternatives NI: Provides services such as support for young people, counselling, mediation, community awareness and education and drug and alcohol awareness .
Amnesty International: A movement of ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights. Its purpose is to protect individuals wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied.
An Munia Tober: Travelers support program for Belfast. It provides a range of support and information services for members of the Traveling community and also is an environment where Travelers can feel comfortable and secure.
Barnardos: Provide a range of vital services including counseling, fostering and adoption, vocational training and disability inclusion groups.
Belfast and District Trades Council: Local council of Trade Union in Belfast
Belfast Carers’ Centre: Provides support and information to Carers across Belfast and the Greater Belfast area. Is an independent organisation dedicated to supporting Carers of all ages, from all walks of life and from all areas.
Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre: Promote the interests and the benefits of the unemployed and other social and economically disadvantaged groups; provides education, training, advice, representation and counselling to the unemployed and the citizens of Northern Ireland.
Carers NI, Belfast Central Carer’s Branch: A membership organisation run by carers for carers, across the whole of Northern Ireland. Carers Northern Ireland improves carers’ lives.
Centre for Global Education: Challenges dominant stereotypes and commonly held perceptions of developing countries which are prevalent in our society. It aims to use education as a means of challenging the causes of poverty and inequality in both local and global contexts by working with all sectors of education.
Children in Crossfire: Exists to make a significant and lasting contribution towards the eradication of poverty. Children in Crossfire supports local initiatives that improve the daily lives for people living in some of the world's poorest communities - for instance, greater income-earning opportunities, improved health facilities, or clean water supplies.
Children in NI: The regional umbrella organisation for the children's sector in Northern Ireland. CiNI provides training, policy, information and participation support services to member organisations, relating to their work with children and young people.
Children's Law Centre: Uses law to promote, protect and realise Children’s Rights.
Chinese Welfare Association: Assists the local Chinese community to identify its needs and to meet these needs either directly or by assisting to bridge the gap between the needs of members of the Chinese community in Northern Ireland and the available services in the areas of health, education, law and welfare.
Coalition on Sexual Orientation: Provides a voice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans Community in debates and consultations surrounding the rights of the community.
Committee on the Administration of Justice: Seeks to secure the highest standards in the administration of justice in Northern Ireland by ensuring that the government complies with its responsibilities in international human rights law.
Community Change: Provides support, training and advice to community groups and networks.
Community Development and Health Network: A member-led organisation which aims to make a significant contribution to ending health inequalities, using a community development approach.
Community Dialogue: Encourages dialogue about contentious issues in Northern Ireland. Its members come from differing and often opposing political, social and religious backgrounds.
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland: An independent grant-making organisation which manages a broad portfolio of funds and programmes that aim to tackle social exclusion, poverty and social injustice.
Community Restorative Justice Ireland: Seeks through a process of empowerment to build a just, restorative community that is tolerant, responsive and inclusive.
Confederation of Community Groups Newry: An umbrella organisation for voluntary and community groups in the Newry and Mourne area in Northern Ireland. It offers advice, practical support, services and training through a number of projects.
Conference of Religious of Ireland: Serves the leadership of religious congregations. It encourages and facilitates leaders and their members, to fulfil the Gospel mission in an ever changing world.
Conflict Trauma Resource Centre: CRTC's mission is to contribute to alleviating the pain, suffering and trauma experienced as a result of the violent conflict in and about N. Ireland by way of cooperation and partnership across and between many boundaries to improve the quality of people’s lives.
Contact a Family: The only UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children - no matter what their disability or health condition. It enables parents to get in contact with other families, both on a local and national basis.
Corrymeela Community: Corrymeela’s objective has always been, and continues to be, promoting reconciliation and peace-building through the healing of social, religious and political divisions in Northern Ireland.
Council for the Homeless NI: Represents organisations working with homeless people throughout Northern Ireland. This is achieved through providing training, information, research and collective representation.
Democratic Dialogue: Works on the continuing challenge of political accommodation in Northern Ireland.
Dennett Interchange: Dennett Interchange community group delivers a ‘Respite for Carers’ service. It is a voluntary service where a volunteer will sit to allow a carer to leave the home for up to 3 hours at a time.
Derry Trades Council: Local Council of Trade Union in Derry
Disability Action: Disability Action works to ensure that people with disabilities attain their full rights as citizens, by supporting inclusion, influencing Government policy and changing attitudes in partnership with disabled people.
Disability Action Human Rights Centre: Aims to secure the human rights of the people with disabilities in Northern Ireland. It does this through campaigning and promoting the human rights of people with disabilities.
Ely Centre: The Ely Centre is a Victims Community Centre. Its main aims: The promotion of cognitive dissonance, between victims/survivors, and society. Hostile Attitude reduction, Disarming sectarian behaviours, Trust building among second generation victims/survivors, Prejudice reduction, Positive identity construction and acceptance Overt cross community engagement
EPIC: An ex-prisoners interpretive service.
Family Planning Association NI: The UK's leading sexual health charity, whose aim is to enable people in the UK to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health.
Good Shepherd Congregation: An international Congregation numbering 4,500 Sisters in 68 countries on the five continents.
Groundwork NI: Works in areas of disadvantage in Northern Ireland, where the peace process is at its most fragile. It works through partnership to bring about social, economic and environmental regeneration.
Hands That Talk: Hands That Talk is the only Deaf Community organisation of its kind in Northern Ireland. It offers a wide range of educational courses, training, recreational and social activities, seminars and an advisory service.
Help the Aged: Help the Aged is an international charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.
Housing Rights Service: Promotes the rights of people who are in housing need, through the provision of independent specialist services and by influencing policy to achieve decent, safe and affordable housing.
Include Youth: Youthnet works with and for the voluntary youth sector in Northern Ireland by representing the views of the sector to government and policy makers and by providing a range of information and support to member organisations.
Indian Community Centre: Works towards the promotion and greater understanding of Indian Culture and Traditions in Northern Ireland and seeks to create and build upon relationships with the wider Northern Ireland community, and reflect upon the changing diversity of our society.
Interaction Belfast: Works to initiate, encourage and enable inter-community development and community action; promote greater understanding and the reduction of community divisions along the Springfield / Falls / Shankill interface.
INTERCOMM: Aims to assist in combating the social, economic and political problems created by 30 years of conflict and help construct a concrete and viable peace.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions: Congress is the largest civil society organisation on the island, representing and campaigning on behalf of some 770,000 working people.
Irish Congress of Trade Unions - NI Committee: The single umbrella organisation for trade unions in Ireland representing a wide range of interests of almost 750,000 working people, both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.
Kilcranny House: A residential, educational and resource centre. It is committed to addressing the divisions, which exist between people in Northern Ireland in a rural residential setting.
Latinoamérica Unida: Is the Latin American Community and Cultural Association for Northern Ireland. It aims to provide support and assistance to members of the rapidly growing Latin American community in Northern Ireland by providing advice, information, cultural activities and training opportunities.
Law Centre NI: Law Centre (NI) is a not for profit agency working to advance social welfare rights in Northern Ireland.
Linc Resource Centre: Is a ministry of Nazarene compassionate ministries working for peace, reconciliation and social justice in Northern Ireland.
Making Women Seen and Heard: A Voluntary Support Group for women.
Mencap: Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
Mercy Sisters: A religious congregation which provides aid and support by responding to the particular needs of Northern Ireland.
Multi Cultural Resource Centre: A regional organisation working as a conduit advocating and promoting human rights and equity through empowerment, collaboration and support of Black and Minority Ethnic communities and individuals.
National Children's Bureau: A charitable organisation that acts as an umbrella body for organisations working with children and young people in England & Northern Ireland.
Newstart Education Centre: Is an alternative education provider. The centre is a much-needed educational support service for young people who, for a variety of reasons, are marginalised and alienated from mainstream education providers.
NI Association of Citizens Advice Bureau: Citizens Advice is the largest advice charity in Northern Ireland, working against poverty and meeting the information and advice needs of some 250,000 people each year across a wide range of advice categories.
NI Women's European Platform: Shares experience and information with women, groups and other partners and sectors; supports the Older Women's Network Northern Ireland; works with other groups on policy development, equality and human rights.
NIACRO: NIACRO's vision is to be acknowledged as making a unique contribution to the creation of a society in which communities can live without fear of crime, and in which the rights and needs of everyone including offenders are equally respected.
NICDA Social Economy Network: The Social Economy Network is a membership-based organisation, drawing its membership from Social Economy Initiatives throughout Northern Ireland.
NICVA: NICVA is an umbrella organisation, seeking to represent the interests of voluntary and community organisations throughout Northern Ireland. In its role as a voluntary sector development agency, NICVA acts as a catalyst to promote innovation and new approaches to the challenge of social need.
NIPSA - Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance: NIPSA is the largest trade union in Northern Ireland representing 44,000 members across the civil and public service and the voluntary sector.
North West Community Network: Is an independent alliance of 190 community and voluntary organisations. It provides a focus for the diverse cultures, beliefs, ideas and activities of local people and for the community and voluntary organisations addressing their needs.
North West Forum of People with Disabilities: The forum is a cross-community and human rights organisation, which seeks to promote equal rights of citizenship and total inclusion for people with disability within society.
Northern Ireland African Cultural Centre: Afro-Community and Cultural Organisation which aims to provide support and assistance to members of the African community in Northern Ireland by providing advice, information, cultural activities and training opportunities.
Northern Ireland Anti Poverty Network: Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network is a lead organisation working with and for those experiencing poverty in Northern Ireland. We work together with individuals experiencing poverty, the voluntary and community sector, public and statutory bodies to develop a poverty free society.
Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities: With its slogan “Working together against racism” the NICEM provides support and advice on topics such as harassment, asylum, anti-racism training and interpreting.
Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education: NICIE is a voluntary organisation that was set up to develop, support and promote Integrated Education in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation: The lead voluntary organisation challenging domestic violence in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Youth Forum: The Northern Ireland Youth Forum (NIYF) is run by young people and is all about young people. It represents the views of young people in Northern Ireland to government and other decision makers.
NUS-USI: NUS-USI Student Movement represents the interests of over 200,000 students in Northern Ireland and campaigns on their behalf in many different fields such as student hardship, health, prejudice and accommodation.
Old Warren Partnership: Community Support Group: offers training programmes, programmes for young mothers, senior citizens, young men, a sports forum, a playgroup and a homework club.
Omagh Ethnic Communities Support Group: Provides training, support and advice to a large number of ethnic groups and families from throughout the Omagh District and beyond.
Omagh Forum for Rural Associations: Provides development support to Community and Voluntary Groups and actively supports communities to help themselves through valuing civic participation and volunteering as vital building blocks in the community.
Organisation for the Unemployed NI: A federation of unemployed centres/groups, community organisations and trade unions/councils that are concerned with the detrimental effect that unemployment has on individuals, families and communities in Northern Ireland.
PAKT Lurgan: A family led project for children, young people and their parents. Provides a programme of activities, help and support, to enhance social, spiritual, personal and physical development, enabling those involved to realise their true potential.
Parkanur College: Provides the opportunity for people with Disabilities to bridge the gap and facilitate the transition between school or the sheltered home environment, to employment and independent living accommodation.
Pat Finucane Centre: Advocates human rights and encourages political development and social change in Ireland. The centre promotes a nonviolent ethos and actively works to build alliances with groups and individuals within the radical and progressive wings of Irish politics.
Peace People: Is committed to building a just and peaceful society through nonviolent means - a society based on respect for each individual and that has at its core the highest standards of human and civil rights.
Pobal: The umbrella organisation for the Irish language community.
PPR Project: Promotes awareness of international human rights instruments and standards and support marginalised communities and groups to use them in accessing services and achieving equality.
Rainbow Project: The Rainbow Project aims to address the physical, mental and emotional health of gay and bisexual men in Northern Ireland.
Relate NI: The leading relationship counselling agency in Northern Ireland
Rethink: Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.
Rights in Community Care c/o UNISON: Education programme which outlines and campaigns for the rights of those in Community Care.
Rural Community Network: Rural Community Network is a regional voluntary organisation established by community groups from rural areas in 1991 to articulate the voice of rural communities on issues relating to poverty, disadvantage and equality.
Saint Columb's Park House: Seeks to contribute to peace-building and social inclusion through a range of programmes that promote civic participation, human rights, and democratic pluralism.
Save the Children: Save the Children is the leading independent organisation creating real and lasting change for children in need around the world.
Seymour Hill and Conway Community Network: A Community Based organisation which campaigns for and supports Community Development projects in the Seymour Hill and Conway area.
Simon Community NI: Actively responds to the needs of homeless people through initiatives aimed at prevention, provision and progression to independent living.
Social Economy Agency: Works for the creation of an equal and just society by promoting Social Economy Solutions which renew and sustain local communities.
Soroptomist International: A worldwide organisation for women in management and the professions, working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women.
South Down Action for Healing Wounds: Provides help and support to innocent victims of terrorist violence in the South Down area.
Springboard: Springboard is committed within a spirit of partnership, to building the capacity of disadvantaged young people and their communities and contributing to a society which is at ease with itself and its diversity.
Star Neighbourhood Centre: The centre offers a range of facilities, services and programmes to the local community, which has experienced disadvantage and social unrest as a result of conflict in the locality.
STEER Mental Health: Provides counselling services, welfare rights and advocacy services, and recovery programmes.
STEP - South Tyrone Empowerment Programme: Provides community development and training services to individuals and groups in the South Tyrone community and across Northern Ireland.
Terry Enright Foundation: An organisation promoting cross-community youth work.
The HIV Support Centre: Provides information and support relating to HIV issues, and also provide training and information provision to individuals, community and voluntary groups as well as statutory agencies.
The Nexus Institute: NEXUS works with survivors of sexual abuse. It provides counselling for males and females over 17 yrs old, provides family support for victims friends and relatives and does education work in the community and schools.
Training for Women Network: Northern Ireland's leading network for the promotion of women's training and development.
Traveller Movement NI: An umbrella group comprising of Travellers, Traveller Support Groups and statutory and voluntary organisations, supporting and co-ordinating work with Travellers.
Ulster Human Rights Watch: Promote human rights in Northern Ireland.
Ulster People's College: A specialist organisation concentrating on adult education and training for development.
UNISON: Britain’s largest Trade Union, with people working in public services, for private contractors providing public services and in the essential utilities.
Upper Springfield Development Trust: A Community Development Organisation, it helps promote and supports social development projects in the Upper Springfield area. It aims to improve social and economic conditions in this community.
Victims Support NI: Helps people affected by crime. It is a completely independent organisation, offering a free and confidential service, whether or not a crime has been reported.
WAVE Trauma Centre: A grass roots, cross community, voluntary organisation which supports people bereaved of a spouse as a result of violence in Northern Ireland. It also incorporates the needs of young people and children and anyone traumatised through ‘the troubles’.
West Belfast Partnership Board: Lobbies on behalf of West Belfast, improving employment opportunities, investment and job creation.
Willowbank Community Resource Centre: Resource centre to promote user empowerment, dignity, independence, choice of service (for user carers) full integration for people with disabilities into the life of the community.
Windsor Women's Centre: Is committed to providing vital services for the diverse needs of women within the local community in the ‘Village’ area of South Belfast.
Women Into Politics: Is the operating name of Downtown Women’s Charity which brings women together to talk about the issues of concern and have created a space to explore political differences and similarities.
Women's Information Group: An umbrella organisation which brings together women’s groups throughout Greater Belfast and the surrounding towns.
Women's Resource and Development Agency: Aims to advance women’s equality and participation in society by working to bring about social, political and economic change for women.
Women's Support Network: The umbrella organisation of community-based women’s groups, centres and organisations in Northern Ireland.
Worker's Educational Association: Offers a wide range of courses that are delivered in community venues and are organised in partnership with local organisations to meet local needs.
Young Citizens in Action: Young Citizens In Action is an exciting youth-led volunteering and citizenship programme that helps young people aged 16-30 years become more actively involved in society through volunteering and raising awareness of relevant youth issues.
Youthnet: Youthnet works with and for the voluntary youth sector in Northern Ireland by representing the views of the sector to government and policy makers and by providing a range of information and support to member organisations.