Monitoring Attacks on Human Rights Defenders
Since the 1980s, Human Rights First has collaborated with Human Rights Defenders and various groups in Northern Ireland. Our efforts have involved monitoring attacks on human rights lawyers in the region, and we remain dedicated to advocating for enhanced safeguards to support their invaluable work.
Human Rights First is involved in a major international project investigating impunity during the 1969-1998 conflict and anticipates publishing its findings by the end of 2023.
Accountability for Human Rights Violations
We have partnered with local and international NGOs to demand accountability for human rights violations that occurred during the 1969-1998 conflict. Human Rights First conducts firsthand research in Northern Ireland and publishes reports and other documents based on that work.
Our Work
Belfast Judge Offers Hope to Springhill/Westrock Families Seeking Truth Before Deadline
Another Northern Ireland Human Rights Lawyer Under Attack
Amendments to UK’s Northern Ireland Conflict Bill Compound Injustice
What Biden Should Say in Belfast About Human Rights
Special Envoy Kennedy Faces Crucial Year in Northern Ireland
Calls for Solidarity as Attacks on Colin Harvey Intensify
International Expert Panel: State Impunity and the Northern Ireland conflict
Leading Human Rights Figure Under Attack in Northern Ireland
Families Preventing Britain from Burying the Truth on Irish Conflict
Cover-up in the Finucane Case + Brexit = Trouble in US-UK relations
British Government Proposes Amnesty for Killings That’s Worse Than Pinochet’s
Ballymurphy Families Win Decades-Long Fight For Official Truth
A Troubling Turn: The Vilification of Human Rights Lawyers in Northern Ireland (2017)
Beyond Collusion: The UK Security Forces and the Murder of Pat Finucane (2002)
A series of reports were produced by Human Rights First when it was the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights:
At the Crossroads: Human Rights and the Northern Ireland Peace Process (1996)
Upcoming Events
Join us for a discussion on the Northern Ireland conflict’s impact on human rights globally, featuring Dr. Brian Dooley from Human Rights First and guest Sara Duddy from the Pat Finucane Centre.
This event will explain the context of the upcoming report “Bitter Legacy: State Impunity in the Northern Ireland Conflict” produced by the International Expert Panel convened by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. The report, an in-depth analysis of British security forces’ actions during the Northern Ireland conflict, underscores the urgent need for this discussion.
Recent Events
Our recent webinar led by our Senior Advisor Brian Dooley with the Pat Finucane Centre, which is working to bring a non-violent resolution to the conflict in Northern Ireland.