Human Rights Commission
McWilliams new human rights chief
Monica McWilliams said a Bill of Rights was her top priority
The former leader of the now defunct Women’s Coalition, Monica McWilliams, has been appointed head of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
The university academic said a Bill of Rights was her top priority.
Professor McWilliams, who succeeds Professor Brice Dickson, said she was delighted to be the new commissioner.
“I have had a long-standing commitment to human rights in Northern Ireland and am looking forward to taking a Bill of Rights forward,” she said.
“The main job of work here is going to be completing that work on the Bill of Rights.
“This commission should not go out of office without having presented the advice on the Bill of Rights to the Secretary of State.
“Obviously, the last time round there was political disagreement on what should be in the Bill of Rights and this time we can move the issue forward,” she said.
Welcoming the announcement, current commissioner Lady Christine Eames said: ‘We are relieved that the Northern Ireland Office has now been able to confirm the appointment of what promises to be a talented and dynamic team of commissioners.
“The appointment of such an experienced chief commissioner bodes well for the future development of our work.
“The appointments will supplement two current commissioners - Lady Christine Eames and Mr Kevin McLaughlin - who were re-appointed in November 2004 for a further period of three years.”
Human Rights Commission Chief Executive Paddy Sloan said staff were looking forward to “building on the significant body of work produced to date”.
The commission has suffered a number of resignations and withdrawals and has been the target of widespread political criticism.
