http://www.billofrightsni.org/news/ en louise@billofrightsni.org Copyright 2008 2008-05-06T16:36:01+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/human_rights_consortium_conference/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/human_rights_consortium_conference/#When:16:36:01Z The Human Rights Consortium will hold a 2 day conference on 2nd and 3rd July 2008 in Belfast which will review progress on the development of a Bill of Rights and the Bill of Rights Forum report. This will be a follow-on from our conference in September 2007 entitled ‘Getting the Bill Right.’ More details to follow soon.  2008-05-06T16:36:01+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/bill_of_rights_forum_report_handover/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/bill_of_rights_forum_report_handover/#When:17:14:00Z Forum report a milestone in delivering a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland (Members of the Bill of Rights Forum discuss the content of their report) The Human Rights Consortium welcomed the publication today (31st March) of the findings of the Bill of Rights Forum as a key milestone in the process of delivering a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Forum, which was set up by the NIO to bring political parties and civic society together to discuss recommendations on what rights should be included in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, has submitted the report of its deliberations to the Human Rights Commission who are statutorily responsible for advising the Secretary of State on the final detail of a Bill of Rights. Chairperson of the Consortium, Fiona McCausland said: “The key reason why the Consortium campaigned for so long for a Forum on the Bill of Rights was to try to address the lack of political engagement in the Bill of Rights process. For a year now, politicians and members of civic society have been sitting around the one table debating and discussing the type of rights that should be protected in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. So this has been a very positive stage in the creation of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. Today’s end-product is the result of many months of hard work and commitment from all involved and provides a good platform from which the process can continue. We do have concerns over the lack of public engagement during what was a very important stage of the Bill of Rights process. A Bill of Rights needs public ownership and as such the Forum should have consulted with everyone in Northern Ireland during its deliberations. This has not been achieved and we would encourage the NIHRC and the government to engage in a process of raising public awareness and participation in the development of a Bill of Rights during this next important phase.  Today’s handover marks the beginning of the next phase of the process, in which the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be responsible for developing its own recommendations based on this report and presenting them to the Secretary of State. I look forward to seeing what developments the next phase of the process brings and hope that the positive engagement that existed on the Forum can continue throughout the rest of the development of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.” A copy of the report can be found in the Useful Resources page 2008-04-02T17:14:00+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/currynierin_womens_action_committee_wall_mural/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/currynierin_womens_action_committee_wall_mural/#When:11:36:00Z This mural was created for International Women’s Day in Derry by Currynierin Women’s Action Committee. It is now on display at Pilot’s Row International Women’s Day exhibition. It was an endeavour to raise the awareness of the importance of having a say on issues particualrly relating to women and children. The mural will later be displayed in the local community to foster interest and concern for this important Bill.  2008-03-11T11:36:00+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/international_womens_day_2008/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/international_womens_day_2008/#When:15:29:00Z (Pictured left to right - Annie Campbell, Sorcha McKenna and Margaret Ward) Female members of the Bill of Rights Forum gathered in Custom House Square today to mark International Women’s Day, Saturday 8th March 2008. Speaking at the event, Forum member Margaret Ward said: “International Women’s Day is a time when women all over the world have an opportunity to raise their voices in a collective demand for equality. I would urge women to voice their support for a strong Bill of Rights that will provide a foundation for the future equality of all women living in Northern Ireland.” The Bill of Rights Forum is nearing the end of its work and will publish its recommendations on 31st March. The Human Rights Consortium encourages members of the public to have their say on what should be included in the Bill of Rights by visiting http://www.billofrightsni.org 2008-03-07T15:29:00+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/dream_team_dvd_launch/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/dream_team_dvd_launch/#When:17:22:01Z Launch of DVD by ‘Dream Team’ Members of Dream Team pictured at the launch of their DVD Newry and Mourne’s ‘Dream Team’ has launched a DVD on the proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and the rights which are important to their members. The Dream Team is a group of adults with a learning disability who live in Supported Living accommodation in the Newry and Mourne area. Ann-Marie Smith, Chairperson of the Dream Team, explains, “This is a very exciting project. The group has been invited to show the film during a submission to the Bill of Rights Forum Working Group which deals with disability issues. We are looking forward to that meeting.” The Group has produced the 10-minute film with the support of Sinead McGeeney from Disability Action and Nikki Girvan from the Community Development Unit at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. Sinead says, “Last summer The Dream Team received funding from Community Foundation Northern Ireland to carry out a project in relation to the proposed Bill of Rights. “The group felt it was important to be included in the process of developing a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. They also wanted to raise awareness about the Bill of Rights amongst people with a learning disability, local pupils, and student social workers.” Community Development Worker Nikki Girvan adds, “The Dream Team used drama to explore issues around their rights and Patricia Downey from Spanner in the Works Theatre Company kindly assisted with drama workshops for the group. “Also included in the DVD are those rights which were chosen by other groups in Newry and Mourne including the ‘A’ Team from The Laurels, Prospects in Newry and Warrenpoint, and Positive Achievers from Positive Futures.” -ENDS- For further information contact Nicky Girvan, Community Development Worker, SHSCT, on (028) 3083 4322 / 4281 or Lisa Cartmill, Communications Manager, SHSCT, on (028) 3861 2579. SHSCT Communications OOH On Call Number: 078 2514 1677. 2008-02-28T17:22:01+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/bill_of_rights_supplment_out_today/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/bill_of_rights_supplment_out_today/#When:17:01:00Z The Human Rights Consortium has published a Bill of Rights supplement, which comes free with today’s Belfast Telegraph. You can also download a PDF of the supplement on our ‘Useful Resources’ page. Please let us know your thoughts. 2008-02-22T17:01:00+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/trash_youth_council_are_getting_it_right/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/trash_youth_council_are_getting_it_right/#When:16:03:01Z Young people from TRASH Youth Council, who presented an evening of film and performance in Portaferry, to explore the current attitudes on issues concerned with the Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. TRASH Youth Council (Teenagers in Rural Ards Shout Health) have spent the last couple of months working with drama facilitator Adam Wallace and filmmaker, Michael Lennox to create a short film documentary and showcase event about the proposed Bill of Rights in Northern Ireland.  The showcase event, which was the climax to the hard work of the young people, on the Bill of Rights, took place in Portaferry Community Centre on Wednesday 23rd January.  The evening was a resounding success, depicting in a variety of educational dramatizations as well as some lively audience participation workshops, highlighting some of the very important issues that may be addressed through a Bill of Rights. According to one participant “An interesting idea – an evening conducted by young people.  A lot of effort, which made us think, well done.” Funded by Community Foundation NI, this challenging project has been managed by a collaborative group made up of representatives from East Down Rural Community Network, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, South Eastern Education and Library Board and Ards Arts part of Ards Borough Council. The young people have submitted a report and their documentary to the Bill of Rights Forum. For groups or individuals still interested in having your voice heard on the Bill of Rights there is time to have your say.  The Human Rights Consortium, a coalition of over 120 organisations from across Northern Ireland is running a major advertising campaign focused on encouraging the public to have their say on the content of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. As part of the campaign members of the public can have their say on the content of a Bill of Rights by using the lobbying tool at http://www.billofrightsni.org For further information or to receive a free copy of the DVD please contact East Down Rural Community Network on 028 9182 8884 or Ards Borough Council’s Community Arts Development Officer on 028 9181 0803. 2008-02-19T16:03:01+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/cross_community_support_for_the_bill_of_rights/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/cross_community_support_for_the_bill_of_rights/#When:17:54:00Z 74% of Protestants and 78% of Catholics who took part in a recent opinion poll survey carried out by the Human Rights Consortium think that it is important for Northern Ireland to have its own Bill of Rights. The survey, carried out just 3 months ago, shows an overwhelming level of support for the much-debated Bill of Rights.  There was also strong support for the Bill from women and men and across the age ranges. “It is brilliant to see such solid support for the Bill of Rights coming from across the whole community,” said Kevin Hanratty of the Human Rights Consortium. “This bears out our own experience, that people of all ages and from every community background see a Bill of Rights as an important part of Northern Ireland’s future. We would ask political leaders from all parties to study these findings and to support people’s call for strong protection of their rights.” Millward Brown Ulster interviewed a random sample of 1,024 adults aged 16+ in November 2007 at locations across Northern Ireland. The poll asked the question “How important or not do you think it is for Northern Ireland to have a Bill of Rights?” 2008-02-18T17:54:00+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/we_would_love_a_bill_of_rights/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/we_would_love_a_bill_of_rights/#When:12:44:00Z (Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness accepts Valentine’s cards on behalf of all the MLAs, from Kevin Hanratty and Sorcha McKenna) The Human Rights Consortium has told our local MLAs that for Valentine’s Day, Northern Ireland would love a Bill of Rights. Members of the Consortium presented Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness with Valentines cards for all 108 MLAs today at Stormont which asked Assembly members to support a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. Speaking at the Valentines event Campaign Officer for the Consortium Kevin Hanratty said, “We are at a key stage in the development of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. A recent survey we conducted showed that on average 75% of people in Northern Ireland think that having our own Bill of Rights is important. We are calling on our MLAs to make the publics Valentine wishes come true by supporting a strong Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.” “Anyone wishing to express their support for a Bill of Rights can have their say at http://www.billofrightsni.org” 2008-02-14T12:44:00+00:00 http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/our_members_in_the_north_west_urge_people_to_have_their_say/ http://www.billofrightsni.org/news_and_events/article/our_members_in_the_north_west_urge_people_to_have_their_say/#When:15:47:00Z Elizabeth Zammitt and Patrick Kyle from the North West Forum of People with Disabilities, along with Patricia Bray from Disability Action in Derry, urge people in the North West to have their say on the Bill of Rights.Visit our Take Action page to have your say. 2008-01-28T15:47:00+00:00