Professor Michael O’Flaherty, Co-Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, has been appointed as the new Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. His appointment was announced on Monday by Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Prof. O’Flaherty will take up his post on 19 September and will lead the Belfast-based human rights watchdog for the next five years. He will maintain his association with the University and the Human Rights Law Centre.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was created by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, as part of the Belfast Agreement. The Commission is an independent body whose main functions are to promote awareness of the importance of human rights in Northern Ireland and to keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice relating to the protection of human rights in Northern Ireland.
The Commission advises the Secretary of State, the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly Committees of measures which ought to be taken for the protection of human rights. The Commission is also able to assist people whose rights have been denied or abused by helping them to take a case to the courts. It is, in appropriate cases, able to bring proceedings itself, and can carry out investigations.
Posted on Wednesday 20th July 2011