Join the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for the launch of their 2023 Annual Human Rights Statement at Stormont. There will also be an online livestream if you can't make it in person.
The Annual Human Rights Statement is a report on the state of human rights issues in Northern Ireland. It is published annually and details the Government's progress in tackling human rights issues in NI.
Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders will deliver the keynote address.
The event will be introduced by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey, followed by an address from Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
Refreshments will be provided.
The event will also be live streamed for those who wish to attend online. If you cannot make it in person and would like to watch the online Live Stream, please indicate when you are registering and you will be sent the link to join online. * Please note the live stream will start at 12.30pm*.
About the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor
Ms. Mary Lawlor took up the mandate of Special Rapport on the situation of human rights defender on 1 May 2020, following the Human Rights Council decision 43/115.
Ms. Lawlor is currently an Adjunct Professor of Business and Human Rights in the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), School of Business, Trinity College Dublin. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Business.
She has worked extensively with and on the situation of human rights defenders. In 2001 she founded Front Line Defenders - the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders to concentrate on human rights defenders at risk. As Executive Director from 2001-2016, Ms. Lawlor represented Front Line Defenders and had a key role in its development.
Ms. Lawlor was previously the Director of the Irish Section of Amnesty International from 1988 to 2000, became a Board member in 1975 and was elected Chair from 1983 to 1987.
She has a BA in Philosophy and postgraduate degrees in Montessori Teaching and Personnel Management.
Ms. Lawlor is on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Ethics in Public Life, School of Philosophy, University College Dublin.