3 December 2009 Edition

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Bill must contain strengthened socio-economic rights for all - Anderson

Martina Anderson

Martina Anderson

ANY new Bill of Rights for the Six Counties must contain economic and social rights protections, Sinn Féin’s equality and human rights spokesperson Martin Anderson MLA has declared.
Speaking after the British Government published its consultation paper on a Bill of Rights, Anderson said:
“It must be remembered that the promise of a new Bill of Rights is one of the British government’s key unfulfilled commitments arising from the Good Friday Agreement eleven years ago.
“The Bill of Rights Forum and Human Rights Commission have both said that economic and social rights must be part of any new Bill of Rights. The British government – through this NIO consultation – has ignored that view.

contributing factors
“Structural socio-economic discriminations and inequalities were contributing factors to the conflict here, not least on issues such as employment and housing.
“The British Government oversaw that regime, and has systematically failed to tackle the structural inequalities at the heart of the Six Counties.
“The institutional resistance over the last decade to the equality and human rights elements of the Good Friday Agreement make it even more necessary that fully justiciable economic and social rights  – which go above and beyond the current threshold – are enshrined in any new Bill of Rights.
“While Sinn Féin is demanding even more rights-based protections for all citizens, we will not tolerate – under any circumstances – any move which undermines the existing provisions on the promotion of equality.

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