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How is our work influencing life in Northern Ireland and delivering equality? Learn more about our policy, legal and research work.
 
 

Protecting rights after Brexit

 


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.

What EU equality laws are in Annex 1 to the Protocol?

 

Why was this commitment made?

 

Who is covered by this commitment?

 

What rights are covered by the commitment?

 

What would amount to a breach of the commitment?

 

Is this commitment binding?

 

What is the role of the Equality Commission?

 

What are the new powers and duties of the Equality Commission?

 

Can individuals bring complaints if there is a breach of the commitment?

 

What are the North/South oversight arrangements?

 
 

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.




 
ECNI
Delivering equality
 


Making a complaint - equality and human rights after Brexit


We are here to help protect your equality and human rights after Brexit - No Matter What.  

With the Windsor Framework, the UK Government has committed to ensuring that certain equality and human rights in Northern Ireland would continue after Brexit.   

We may be able to help with legal representation or advice if you think there has been a breach of the UK Governments commitment to the Windsor Framework.

Can I challenge a breach of the commitment to safeguard our rights?

 

How do I show that the commitment has been breached?

 

Can the Equality Commission assist me in bringing or taking legal action?

 

Are there time limits for making a complaint?

 
 


Contact us

You can contact the Equality Commissions ‘Rights After Brexit’ enquiries team by: 

Email: DMU@equalityni.org

Tel: 028 9050 0600 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm)

If you require an interpreter, please let us know.

You can also contact the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission by email: 
info@nihrc.org or telephone on 02890 243987, or visit www.nihrc.org/brexit



Further information

 



 
ECNI
Protecting rights after Brexit
 

Policy and Research publications

Research Report Update: EU Developments in Equality and Human Rights - Impact of Brexit

 

Annual Report 2023-2024 on the Implementation of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework

 

Policy Recommendations: The Impact of Brexit on Minority Ethnic and Migrant People in NI

 

Briefing Paper on the EU Pay Transparency Directive

 

The Impact of Brexit on Women in Northern Ireland

 

Annual Report by three Commissions: Equality and Human Rights after Brexit (Oct 2022 – Sept 2023)

 

Public Awareness Survey - equality and human rights protections in NI after Brexit

 

Annual Report 2022-23: Implementation of Protocol Article 2

 

Briefing papers and submissions

 

Research Report: Impact of Brexit on Minority Ethnic and Migrant People in Northern Ireland

 

Policy Recommendations: Impact of Brexit on the divergence of rights and best practice on the Island of Ireland

 

Research Report: Impact of Brexit on the divergence of rights and best practice on the Island of Ireland

 

Annual Joint report on the implementation of Article 2 of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol (Jan 21 - Sept 22)

 

Working Paper: The Scope of Article 2(1) of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol

 

Annual Report 2021-22: Implementation of Protocol Article 2

 

EU Funding: Impact of Brexit on Section 75 Equality Groups in NI

 

Legislative Scrutiny and the Dedicated Mechanism for monitoring Article 2 of the Ireland/NI

 

Consultation responses

 
 

 

 



Making a Complaint
Protecting Rights after Brexit
 

News and events


News, press releases and articles relating to our work protecting equality and human rights after Brexit.
 

blog

Public attitudes and awareness of rights after Brexit - Blog by Martina McAuley, Research Officer, Equality Commission NI
15 November 2024





 

survey

Commission publishes new Research into the Impact of Brexit on Women in Northern Ireland
25 March 2024





 

survey

Equality and human rights protections in NI post Brexit
26 September 2023





 

Equality Commission

Annual report launched on the implementation of Article 2 of Windsor Framework
5 July 2023





Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey

Racism is a daily fact of life in NI
8 June 2023






Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey

Impact of Brexit: Research and policy recommendations launched
27 April 2023




 

 

Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey

Clarifying the Scope of Protocol Protections post Brexit
1 December 2022





 

Equality and rights on the island of Ireland after Brexit

Rights after Brexit - Joint Annual Report Jan 2021 - Sept 2022
29 November 2022





 

Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of IHREC, Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner for the Equality Commission NI, Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner for the NI Human Rights Commission

Human Rights and Equality Bodies address Oireachtas Members
21 September 2022






Geraldine McGahey and David Russel at launch of the Annual Report

Annual report: Implementation of Article 2 of the NI Protocol
5 July 2022





 

Map of Northern Ireland under a magnifying glass

Government urged to put equality at heart of future funding policies
6 June 2022





 

Geraldine McGahey, Alyson Kilpatrick, and Michael Finucane

Three Commissions meet minority ethnic groups and migrant people to discuss rights after Brexit
14 March 2022

View videos on YouTube



 

June Best with her assistance dog



Break down barriers, do not build new ones after Brexit
8 February 2022





 

Human Rights and Equality Commissioners meeting the Jewish community

Call to alleviate food shortages for Jewish community
16 December 2021






First joint meeting of Commissions following Brexit

First joint meeting of Commissions following Brexit
23 November 2021






EU Vice President meets Commissions in Belfast

EU Vice President meets Commissions in Belfast
9 September 2021






EU map

Submission to House of Lords inquiry into operation of Protocol
23 June 2021






Chief Commissioners Geraldine McGahey and Les Allamby at Stormont

Commissions update Assembly Committee on protections post Brexit
14 April 2021






New human rights and equality oversight roles begin

New human rights and equality oversight roles begin
4 January 2021






Equality and human rights protections post Brexit

Equality and human rights protections post Brexit
5 December 2020









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Making a Complaint
Protecting Rights after Brexit

 

 

 
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