Law Society of Northern Ireland marks 25 years of the Human Rights Act in Northern Ireland

The Law Society of Northern Ireland hosted an event to mark the significant milestone of 25 years of the Human Rights Act in Northern Ireland. 

The event, chaired by Lorraine Keown (Human Rights and Equality Committee Chair), brought together legal professionals and wider stakeholders across the jurisdiction, to reflect on the Acts impact and continuing importance. 

Opening the event, the Society’s Junior Vice President, Mark Borland, reflected on the importance of the Human Rights Act in the context of Northern Ireland, describing it as: 

“An integral part of the legal fabric in Northern Ireland, shaping decisions across many areas of law, embedding a culture of rights, and helping to promote fairness, dignity and respect for all”. 

A keynote address was delivered by Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, who reflected on the significance of the anniversary:  

“As we mark 25 years of the Human Rights Act, we celebrate a framework that has transformed rights protection into practical reality. Human rights require public authorities to treat everyone the same way regardless of background or status.

This achievement depends on an independent legal profession—ready to advise, challenge, and uphold principles even against power and popular opinion. This commitment ensures that human rights remain above politics, safeguarding life and rights protections for everyone in Northern Ireland.”

Dr Conall Mallory (Co-Director of QUB’s Human Rights Centre) reflected on the past, present and future of the Human Rights Act in Northern Ireland, drawing on debates from Parliament and considering some of the most influential cases arising under the Act. 

The final contribution was made by Les Allamby (Member of the Society’s Human Rights and Equality Committee), who considered the relationship between Parliament, the UK Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights and cited various examples of how the Human Rights Act and European Convention rights have made tangible differences to people’s lives. 

While celebrating the achievements and particular significance of the Human Rights Act in Northern Ireland, speakers also acknowledged the continuing challenges facing the protection of human rights in an evolving society and amidst wider changing public rhetoric, highlighting the need to continuously adopt and not be complacent in this area.