A photograph of Professor Colin Murray, alongside the front page of the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement. In front of these images is the heading of the article 'Hollowing Out Human Rights: The Implications for the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement of Restricting ECHR Protections for Immigrants'

A new blog from our board member, @colinmurray.bsky.social, discusses the upcoming consideration by the Council of Europe of the Political Declaration intending to "rebalance" the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in immigration contexts.

Read more here 👉 verfassungsblog.de/belfast-good...

Reporting by @freyamcc.bsky.social on efforts by human rights groups (Inc @cajni.bsky.social) to highlight the risks of plans to weaken Art 3 and 8 ECHR obligations beyond the supposed focus on immigration. The Irish Govt, backing these efforts, does not have a compelling response to the concerns:

Government accused of colluding with ‘narrow agenda’ of UK on human rights issues Groups say Council of Europe proposal would weaken protections of the European Convention on Human Rights

With @cajni.bsky.social @amnestyni.bsky.social @rfjustice.bsky.social @finucanecentre.bsky.social @pilsni.bsky.social and others, we wrote to Minister McEntee urging the government to defend the ECHR, rather than colluding with agendas that seek to undermine it.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Israel/US attacks on Iran: FIDH calls for protection of civilians, respect of international law The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) strongly condemns the military attacks on Iran by the United States (US) and Israel, which (…)

As a @fidh-official.bsky.social member, we strongly condemn the recent US & Israel military attacks on Iran and urge all parties to immediately cease hostilities. Civilians must be protected, international law upheld, and investigations into violations pursued. ✊

www.fidh.org/en/region/as...

Yesterday evening was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends and longstanding supporters of ICCL, and to hear from excellent speakers including Dr Andrew Forde, Daniel Holder, Director of @cajni.bsky.social, and @ailbhes.bsky.social.

CAJ and partners were at the Guildhall today presenting to the Derry City & Strabane District Council on the Mobuoy Community Inquiry.

We want to thank the Council for hearing and supporting our plans to get some answers for Mobuoy.

A graphic poster with the words 'We're Hiring - Senior Legal and Policy Officer (Legacy)' in the centre. A stylised image of a Lady Justice statue is faint in the background. The CAJ logo is placed along the bottom of the image.

📢 We’re hiring: Senior Legal and Policy Officer (Legacy)

Work on the legacy of the Northern Ireland conflict, supporting legal & policy interventions, litigation, and justice reform.

💼 £44,075 pa | 35 hrs/week | 3-year contract with extension possibility

More info 👉 caj.org.uk/get-involved...

Murder and MI5: the extraordinary battle over what stays secret Can the state, especially when it is implicated in killing, be trusted as the arbiter of what should remain confidential?

BBC In Depth reports on the Thompson Supreme Court ruling, in which CAJ acted for Next of Kin Eugene Thompson.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Police chief considering release of secret MI5 report on Troubles Campaigners welcome announcement from Northern Ireland’s top policeman amid fears the file might never “see the light of day”

We welcome the PSNI announcement that they will review the security classification of legacy reports and that that exercise importantly includes the Morton report.

www.declassifieduk.org/police-chief...

BBC Radio Ulster - Good Morning Ulster, 08/01/2026 The day's news agenda, including regular news, travel and sport updates.

CAJ Director, Daniel Holder on Good Morning Ulster discussing the issue of veterans protections in the NI Troubles Bill.

Listen here from 00:56:06: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Anurag Deb, Colin Murray and Gabriel Tan: Legacy Issues: In re Secretary of State for Northern Ireland [2025] UKSC 47 Introduction It is a rare case where the UK Government initiates a judicial review against an independent public body. The Thompson case is just such a case. The Secretary of State for Northern Ire…

ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/18/a...

The @cajni.bsky.social annual lecture sees PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher excoriate the application and practice of Neither Confirm Nor Deny policy in NI as an "implacable dogma" in cases like Stakeknife which does not recognise the need for "flexible and nuanced" application in Legacy cases.

What a privilege to be @cajni.bsky.social Annual Lecture delivered by Jon Boutcher, 24hrs after he delivered the landmark Operation Report

Glad to chair the CAJ Annual Lecture last night. A full house and tremendous lecture by PSNI Chief Constable John Boutcher.

CAJ 2025 Annual Lecture: 'Neither Confirm Nor Deny Policy' and Legacy Investigations | Delivered by PSNI Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher - Committee on the Administration of Justice This year’s CAJ Annual Lecture was delivered by Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable of the PSNI, on the theme of “‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’ Policy and Legacy Investigations.” The lecture explored the appli...

A huge thank you to everyone who attended last night's CAJ Annual Lecture with PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, exploring the NCND policy and its impact on legacy investigations.

You can now read the full transcript here: caj.org.uk/publications...

Paramilitary groups still engaged in an array of violent terror acts to this day act with impunity.

@cajni.bsky.social add 'There is a specific concentration of Palestinian solidarity activities within nationalist communities... [policing] risked discriminatory impact against nationalists.”

[2/2]

Palestine Action: PSNI faces questions on policing of support for proscribed groups Despite arrests and advisory letters since Palestine Action was banned, no similar action was taken over displays of support for paramilitaries

If you read one thing today, let it be this article from @lukejbutterly.bsky.social. Discriminatory policing, the handing down of impunity to loyalist terror groups and supporters, and according to the @cajni.bsky.social - the 'risked discriminatory impact against nationalists.'

🚨CAJ Annual Lecture 🚨

"‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’ Policy and Legacy Investigations” delivered by PSNI Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher

📅 Wed 10 December
🕢 7:30pm | Drinks Reception 8:30pm
📍 Riddel Hall, QUB Belfast, Stranmillis Road

📌 RSVP required: lnkd.in/ef4HyAvB

📢 New report out now: “Inciting a Pogrom? Social Media and the Racist Disorder in Ballymena and Beyond”

Findings include how racist violence in NI has evolved into ongoing community intimidation organised through social media.

Read the full report: caj.org.uk/publications...

A flyer for the Joint seminar titled 'Unpacking the joint framework on legacy'. Date and Time: 10th October, 10am. Venue: The Great Hall, Queen's University Belfast. Logos of supporting organisations are along the bottom including: Queen's University Belfast Mitchell Institute and Human Rights Centre, CAJ, Pat Finucane Centre, Amnesty International, Relatives for Justice. Registrations are required. In-person only event.

📢 Joint Seminar: Unpacking the UK–Ireland Joint Framework on Legacy

Hosted by CAJ, QUB's Mitchell Institute & Human Rights Centre, this seminar brings together NGO leaders and academic experts to examine the new Joint Framework on Legacy. 🔍📄

🔗 Register here 👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

A screenshot from the BBC news website showing a photo of CAJ Director Daniel Holder. The text in the article reads: Daniel Holder, Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), says it should not have taken the McCullough Review "to get to the bottom of PSNI surveillance". "There is a current oversight mechanism the UK Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office (IPCO) that missed this," he says. "This was not the mechanism that was supposed to be in place on the back of the Good Friday Agreement." Mr Holder suggests the PSNI fell short of what was envisaged by the Patten Commission which was set up during the peace process to reform policing in Northern Ireland. "The Patten Commission had recommended a specific 'Commissioner for Covert Law Enforcement in Northern Ireland' to ensure covert policing techniques were being used within the law," the CAJ director says. "This unimplemented commitment should now be taken forward."

CAJ Director, Daniel Holder, attended this morning's press conference following the publication of the McCullough Review findings.

"It should not have taken McCullough to get to the bottom of PSNI surveillance"

Full statement with @amnestyuk.bsky.social 👉 caj.org.uk/latest/mccul...

A poster with the title 'Know Your Rights to Protest' Guide Launch written on it. Various line art icons depicting protest, policing and courts are placed around the text.

In the face of our rights to protest being dismantled, we are hosting another 'Know Your Rights to Protest' workshop in Derry.✊

🗓️ 23 Sept
⏰ 17.30
🏛️ Museum of Free Derry

Sign up 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/know-your-...

The front cover of CAJ's newest publication titled "The Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights: Explainer". The cover includes this title as well as a partially covered image of 'The Treaty Series' agreement for the Belfast Agreement.

A new report by @colinmurray.bsky.social and @aoifemod.bsky.social explains claims the UK could leave the ECHR without breaching the Good Friday Agreement are “not credible.”

caj.org.uk/wp-content/u...

The protest guide is held up by a guest at the Belfast launch, with other guests chatting in the background.

Our right to protest must be protected!

Join us for the Derry launch of 'Know Your Rights to Protest'. It's the first NI-specific guide on the topic, written for local organisers.

🗓️23 Sept @ 17.30 @museumfreederry.bsky.social

@cajni.bsky.social
@friendsofearthni.bsky.social
@ejni.bsky.social

CAJ is recruiting a Solicitor (Legacy) to join our team in Belfast.

This post will focus on legacy litigation, human rights and safeguarding the peace process.

📄 Find out more & apply here: caj.org.uk/get-involved...
📅 Closing date: 6th October 2025

Watchdog kept in dark as PSNI spied on journalists Police were expected to flag any journalist surveillance during annual inspections

The oversight system for covert powers in NI has failed before - from Operation Ballast to Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey’s revelations. We need the Patten-recommended Commissioner for Covert Law Enforcement, still missing 25 years on.
@lukejbutterly.bsky.social

www.thedetail.tv/articles/wat...

Hi Damien, thanks very much for this important reminder. We strive to ensure our work is accessible as possible for everyone and will ensure going forward we use ALT text. Thanks, Hannah

The ECHR is deeply embedded within the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. This commitment does not allow the UK Government to formulate some version of what it regards as ECHR-equivalent protections.

Read our joint statement 👇
@ppr-org.bsky.social & Human Rights Consortium NI

Police ‘overzealous’ in censoring MI5 report on Northern Ireland Campaigners in Belfast have criticised police for not releasing a file from the Troubles after similar documents were discovered in Foreign Office archives.

The Morton Report has been hidden for 50 years. Similar MI5 reports are public. It’s time for PSNI to end needless secrecy and release it. @declassifieduk.org

www.declassifieduk.org/police-overz...

Voices for justice and accountability gathered in London's St Ethelburga’s Centre last month for a panel event on state impunity in the UK

Human rights advocates highlighted ongoing concerns about policing, protest rights, and historical injustices.

@dooleydooley.bsky.social@annumayor.bsky.social