The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has presented its case on a future bill of rights for the North to the British Government.

The advice was handed over to Secretary of State Shaun Woodward on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the HRC, said the contents would “reflect and safeguard” the Good Friday and St Andrews agreements.

“The HRC has carefully considered how its recommendations reflect the principles of mutual respect for the identity and ethos of both communities and parity of esteem,” she explained. 

“At the same time, we have acknowledged that the rights and needs of others must be protected. Both objectives can be best achieved through a bill of rights that reflects a common commitment to fairness, equality and justice for all.”

West Belfast MP Gerry Adams welcomed the next stage in the process.

“This is potentially one of the most important milestones since the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) ten years ago and is crucial to ensuring building equality, defending human rights and making sure there is no return to the abuses of the past,” said the MP.

“The history of this jurisdiction has been one in which citizens’ rights were trampled on and ignored. 

“Discrimination and injustice against one section of people were integral parts of the fabric of this society since before partition.

“Today, the political institutions have the hard task of overcoming that legacy of structured political, economic and religious discrimination. 

“Therefore, the bill of rights must be more than a set of pie-in-the-sky rights that sound good on paper but have no impact on people’s lives.

“It must part of the legal framework that can protect citizens against discrimination and injustice.”

Mr Adams said the onus was now on the Irish and British governments to take the issue forward.

“The British government must not veto or dilute the potential that exists to put in place a comprehensive bill of right for the North. 

“Moreover, the Irish government needs to look closely at what has been produced, with a view to moving forward to create the charter envisaged in the GFA.

“To advance this work, Sinn Féin believes it is essential an all-Ireland constitutional court be established to serve as an independent and impartial body to which citizens, special interest groups and those charged with advancing and protecting human rights can refer cases for decisions.”