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Human Rights: Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement

Implementations

Human Rights – 1998

Along with reaffirming a commitment to human rights in the Good Friday Agreement, parties agreed to change legislation in the UK to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) of the Northern Ireland Act (1998). The Northern Ireland Act of 1998 also provided for the establishment of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. After the approval of the agreement in the referendum, The Northern Ireland Act (1998) guaranteed the establishment of the ECHR in Northern Ireland.

Human Rights – 1999

The ECHR became effective on 2 December 1999, after the establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive on 29 November 1999.¹

Also, the British government committed to a new statutory Equality Commission to replace the Fair Employment Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission (NI), the Commission for Racial Equality (NI), and the Disability Council. The establishment of the Equality Commission was provided for in the Northern Ireland Act (1998). The commission finally came into existence on 1 March 1999²“The Good Friday Agreement: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission,” BBC News, May 2006, accessed January 21, 2013, http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/agreement/equality/hr2.shtm… became operational on 1 September 1999.²“The Good Friday Agreement: Equality Commission for Northern Ireland,” BBC News, May 2006, accessed January 21, 2013, http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/agreement/equality/equality…

“Whose human rights in Northern Ireland?” BBC News, October 5, 2000.

Human Rights – 2000

The human rights related provisions in the Good Friday Agreement were implemented between 1998 and 1999.