Equality Obligations - Human Rights

Human Rights Act 1998

The provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 came into effect at the time of devolution and incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law. The Department must ensure compliance of its legislation, decision-making and administrative practice with the requirements of the convention. A Departmental Human Rights Action Plan has been put in place to fulfil this obligation.

Full details of the Human Rights Act 1998 can be found at:

www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980042.htm

Information on the NI Human Rights Commission can be found on their web site at www.nihrc.org

OFMDFM (Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister) has issued revised guidance ‘Get in on the Act’: a practical guide to the Human Rights Act for Public Authorities in Northern Ireland. This easy to use reference document gives general guidance on human rights issues in light of experience since the Human Rights Act came into force in 2000. It can be accessed online and can be downloaded as a PDF document. A Human Rights Act Impact Assessment Pro-Forma is also available on the site. This will assist policymakers in the Department in assessing the potential human rights impacts of policies and /or decisions.