Protection of Equality and Human Rights After Brexit
What is the UK Government’s commitment to equality and human rights after Brexit?
Prior to the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU) in January 2020, the UK Government committed to ensuring that certain equality and human rights in Northern Ireland would continue to be upheld after Brexit.
This commitment was set out in the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol to the Withdrawal Agreement reached with the EU.
• Commitment not to reduce certain equality and human rights after Brexit
In particular, under Article 2 of the Protocol, the UK Government committed to ensuring that the protections currently in place in Northern Ireland for the rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity provisions set out in the chapter of the same name in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement will not be not reduced as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
This means, for example, that the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive cannot act in a way that would reduce certain equality and human rights in Northern Ireland, as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
• Commitment to keep pace with certain equality rights after Brexit
The UK Government has also committed to ensuring that some of Northern Ireland’s equality laws will keep pace with any future changes to certain EU equality laws.
This means that if the EU amends or updates the EU equality laws set out in Annex 1 to the Protocol, after 1 January 2021, Northern Ireland equality laws will keep pace with those changes. This is designed to ensure that certain Northern Ireland equality laws will not fall behind minimum EU standards of protection in anti-discrimination.
Useful information
The 'Your Rights' publication is also available in the following languages:
Further information
Contact us
For general information about the Equality Commission’s 'Dedicated Mechanism Unit' email: DMU@equalityni.org or Tel: 028 90500600. For advice enquiries on making a complaint, speak to one of our Dedicated Mechanism Unit advisors, Tel: 028 90500600, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm.
NI Human Rights Commission
For further information on NI Human Rights Commission and its role as part of the dedicated mechanism, you can also contact the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, email: info@nihrc.org or Tel: 028 90243987, website: www.nihrc.org/human-rights-after-brexit
Independent Monitoring Authority
Further information on the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements and its work to protect on citizens’ rights protections under the Withdrawal Agreement, after 1 January 2021, is available on their website: www.ima-citizensrights.org.uk.