🟣 Éilis Haughey, our Director of Human Rights after EU Withdrawal, spoke to students at @ulsterunischlaw.bsky.social about policy and advice to government.

🟣 We visited Monkstown Boxing Club with Joe Lockley, CEO of Brightstar Boxing, to share learning on using sport for education and engagement

🟣 Michael Boyd OBE chaired a CFNHRI meeting exploring sport and human rights, including the right for young people to access sport

🟣 Rhyannon Blythe, our Director of Legal Services, spoke to law students at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social School of Law about the work of the Commission, at an event also attended by Phoenix Law.

Person in background speaks to lecture hall of young people in foreground

Woman stands at a lectern with a large screen and two small screens behind her, with a presentation on them

Two people stand in front of red and blue boxing rings

three people sit at a boardroom table smiling to camera, with a screen showing a video call with multiple participants behind them

One the Commission’s core remits is to promote the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland.

Over the past week, Commission staff engaged with several stakeholders and groups to promote human rights. Read more below.

📢 The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is inviting applications for the appointment of four Commissioners to the NIHRC.

To find out more and apply, click here: apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9262

📅 Closing date: Midday, 1st May 2026

Three men are standing in front of a wall that reads "We are the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission"

Photo of a boardroom with three people sitting in person, in the background a screen with multiple people online can be seen.

Today we held the CFNHRI Sport & Human Rights Workshop — exploring children’s rights in sport, sport-for-change practice (BrightStar Boxing and Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland) and how NHRIs can support sporting bodies on inclusion.

Thanks to all speakers and participants!

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to help protect and promote human rights across Northern Ireland.

To find out more and apply, click here: apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles

📅 Closing date: Midday, 1st May 2026

Graphic reading “Vacancy: Commissioners at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.”

📢 The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is inviting applications for the appointment of four Commissioners to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Commissioners play a vital role in providing expertise, oversight, and strategic leadership to our work.

📢 Only 5 days left to apply to join us as Digital Communications Assistant!

Applications close at 12:00 noon on Monday 13 April.

For full details and application see: nihrc.org/about-us/car...

Graphic with text that reads: Submission to the Department of Education’s Consultation on the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.

Graphic with text that reads: We recommend that the strategy is underpinned by a human rights framework

Graphic with text that reads: We have raised concerns that the strategy may not be affordable in the long term due to the current lack of allocated funding.

Graphic with a QR code to scan. Below it it reads: Read the full submission at nihrc.org/publications

The NIHRC have responded to the Department of Education’s Consultation on the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy

Read our response here: nihrc.org/publication/...

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group of 10 young people in a line

four people sitting, one with microphone talking, brick wall background with 'climate justice' sign

screenshot of a video call with 8 people

One of NIHRC’s duties is to promote the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland.

This week, our staff engaged with several stakeholders and groups to promote human rights, including a workshop for young people, a business and human rights meeting, and a human rights and climate change talk.

Purple background white writing saying 'Bank holiday office closure'

The NIHRC office will be closed on Friday 3rd April and Monday 6th April for the Easter bank holiday, reopening on Tuesday 7th April.

A formal human rights panel with three speakers seated at a long table, each with microphones and nameplates. The central figure is Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, shown both at the table and on a large screen behind the panel. To his left sits Amina Bouayach of the National Human Rights Council, and to his right Alyson Kilpatrick.

The UN High Commissioner called on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) to come together as part of a global alliance to mobilise, influence, uphold, protect, and advance human rights.

Read more about the event: ganhri.org/event/ganhri...
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A formal human rights panel with three speakers seated at a long table, each with microphones and nameplates. The central figure is Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, shown both at the table and on a large screen behind the panel. To his left sits Amina Bouayach of the National Human Rights Council, and to his right Alyson Kilpatrick.

Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick was delighted to take part in a panel discussion at the @ganhri.bsky.social Annual Meeting 2026, alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and GANHRI Chairperson, Amina Bouayach.
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📣 We’re hiring!

NIHRC invites applications for the post of: Digital Communications Assistant (Permanent) (Full-time).

Applications close on Monday 13 April.

For full details and application see: nihrc.org/about-us/car...

#vacancy #jobfairy

six people sit along a table on a stage with name signs in front of them and a large screen in the background

NIHRC plays a key international leadership role this week as Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick, in her position as Secretary of @ganhri.bsky.social, attends the 2026 Annual Conference of the global network of UN member state NHRIs.

Read more: ganhri.org/event/ganhri...

Room of people sitting at tables, looking towards man on stage with screen beside him

NIHRC is pleased to support today’s 'Work with Men and Boys' event in collaboration with Belfast City Council and NI Executive, bringing community partners together to end violence against women and girls.

#EndViolenceBelfast

Photo of a room with people sitting around a large table. David Russell, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission stands in front of a lectern while addressing the room.

Dr David Russell, CEO of the NIHRC, successfully facilitated a panel at today’s CFNHRI high‑level dialogue in London on protecting civic space.

Thank you to our Commonwealth partners for the vital exchange — we remain committed to defending human rights, civic freedoms & democratic participation.

Large room with multiple students sitting on chairs. A presentation with Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission work is being screened.

We were delighted to be invited to St Joseph's High School, Crossmaglen to talk to Year 10 students about human rights and the work of the Commission.

Thanks to the students for your great questions and discussion!

A group of people sit around a large conference table in a meeting room. A large screen at the front of the room displays a presentation slide in purple and white.

Warm welcome to our friends from Kosovo!

Honoured to host the Conversations of Empowerment delegation in Belfast. Great exchanges on human rights, community empowerment, education, sport and civic participation — learning from each other to build more inclusive, resilient communities.

Graphic with purple background and energy lines that reads: Vacancy. Digital Communications Assistant.

📣 We’re hiring!

NIHRC invites applications for the post of: Digital Communications Assistant (Permanent) (Full-time).

Applications close on Monday 13 April.

For full details and application see: nihrc.org/about-us/car...

#vacancy #jobfairy

Group of five people stand in front of a large tv screen which is purple and has the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission logo on it. Two of the people are school students and are holding purple notebooks.

Commission staff were delighted to lead an interactive workshop at Integrated College Dungannon yesterday.

Year 12 students heard about the work of the Commission and learned about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and discussed the importance of human rights in our society.

Purple graphic explaining that the latest Annual Statement analyses issues related to racism in Northern Ireland, including hate crime, intersectional multiple discrimination, and racial equality. A QR code links to the Annual Statement 2025. Decorative coloured lines surround the text.

Pink graphic titled “What to know more about our work?” with two sections of text and two QR codes. The first section links to the NI Human Rights Commission’s submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, dated July 2024. The second section links to the NI Human Rights Commission briefing paper on racial and ethnic minority rights and online misinformation and disinformation, dated June 2025. Decorative coloured lines frame the design.

Purple graphic with the text “Learn more about our work by visiting www.nihrc.org.” Beneath the text are icons for LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky, X, YouTube, and Spotify. Decorative multicoloured lines surround the layout.

Poster with a purple upper half showing the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission logo and the title “21 March – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.” The lower portion shows children gathered around a table with artwork of a world map. Decorative coloured lines appear throughout the design.

Teal graphic featuring text explaining that the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) calls on states to condemn and address racism through laws, policies, and international cooperation promoting equality, understanding, and social justice. Decorative coloured lines appear around the border.

Purple graphic displaying Northern Ireland PSNI statistics for 2024/2025: 2,260 race incidents and 1,430 race hate crimes. Text notes these figures represent increases of 488 incidents and 271 crimes compared to the previous year. Decorative coloured lines appear throughout.

21st March marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Find out more about this day here: un.org/en/observanc...

Read more about the Commission’s work protecting and promoting the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland here: nihrc.org

Photo of a school hall with students sitting at round tables in groups. In the background there is a person speaking from a lectern on a stage with a screen behind them.

Staff from NIHRC led two interactive workshops with junior and senior classes at St Conor's College today.

Students discussed the importance of human rights for everyone, and learned about the laws that protect them.

Thank you to the staff and students for the warm welcome!

Graphic with purple background that reads: Bank Holiday. Office Closure.

The NIHRC office will be closed on Tuesday 17th March for the bank holiday, reopening on Wednesday 18th March.

@sported.bsky.social @ulsteruni.bsky.social

Last week, the NI Sport & Human Rights Forum met to explore the impact of cost of living pressures and poverty on access to sport.

Read more about the session here: nihrc.org/news/detail/...

As we approach International Women’s Day, our Chief Commissioner, Alyson Kilpatrick, highlights #IWD2026 must be a call to action to strengthen rights for women and girls, including addressing emerging digital harms, poverty and access to justice and redress.

nihrc.org/news/detail/...