NI rights monitors win European award

An independent group monitoring human rights in the North for nearly 20 years has won a new European award for its efforts.

British Irish Rights Watch (BIRW) has been chosen by human rights experts for its “outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights in Europe”.

The citation praises BIRW’s “courageous and outstanding work in monitoring and bringing to light human rights abuses and its fight against impunity in Northern Ireland”.

The judging panel of MPs representing 47 countries also commended BIRW’s “vigilance” in ensuring that counter-terrorism measures were in conformity with international human rights standards.

The award is organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of human rights watchdog the Council of Europe, the Strasbourg-based body which predates the EU and whose members include all 27 EU countries.

BIRW was unanimously selected from 14 individuals and NGOs nominated for the prize by a panel of human rights experts.

BIRW director Jane Winter said: “We are delighted and honoured to receive this distinguished award. There are many human rights lessons to be learned from Northern Ireland, and this recognition of the importance of our work by the Council of Europe is very welcome at a time when recent violence has overshadowed the overwhelming desire for peace in Northern Ireland.”

The award winner was announced at a Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Paris.

Assembly President Lluis Maria de Puig said: “At a critical time for the peace process in Northern Ireland, this award sends a clear signal that those who wish to return to violence will not prevail.”

BIRW was set up in 1990 as an independent non-governmental organisation monitoring “the human rights dimension” of the North's conflict and, more recently, the peace process.

Its website states:

“Our services are available free of charge to anyone whose human rights have been violated because of the conflict, regardless of religious, political or community affiliations.

“We take no position on the eventual constitutional outcome of the conflict.”

Much of its work is done by volunteers and their efforts are being recognised with a €10,000 cash prize, a medal and diploma, all of which will be handed over at a ceremony at Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg in June.