Bitter Legacy: State Impunity in the Northern Ireland Conflict
NCHR was requested to act as convener of a panel of international experts commissioned to produce a report on state impunity during the conflict in and about Northern Ireland. The report “ Bitter legacy” was launched in April 2024 and received wide spread media coverage in UK, Irish and other international media.
You can get access to the report and press coverage here.
The report concludes that the British government operated a "widespread, systematic, and systemic" practice of impunity that protected security forces from sanction during the conflict in Northern Ireland. Bitter legacy examines among other topics, collusion between paramilitaries and the state, torture and state killings. The report also displays an innovative approach to assessing state compliance with its obligation to investigate killings fairly and effectively. The approach draws on the Mendez principles and the UN manual on investigative interviewing.
About the event:
The event will focus on the findings and significance of the report, and particularly the international significance of UK failures to respect their ECHR article 2&3 obligations on the right to life and anti-torture respectively during and after the conflict. The legacy bill, which entered into force this year is a case in point as it offers low threshold amnesty provisions for police and military officers that served in Northern Ireland, and block victims and their relatives access to justice. The newly elected UK government has stated its intention to reverse the legacy bill but it remains to be seen when and how this will take place. In the meantime, preparations for the European court of human rights case between Ireland and the UK over the legacy bill continue.
On October 22nd, NCHR is pleased to have panelists Kjell Erik Eriksen and Ron Dudai in Oslo. Other panelists and commentators will join online.
Practical information:
The event will be held in English and will take place at Domus Academica, Theologisk Eksamenssal.
Due to limited seating, please register in advance:
If you have any questions, do not hesitate in reaching out to s.e.fredstad@nchr.uio.no