Nesbitt meets Human Rights Commission
Dermot Nesbitt, UUP human rights spokesperson, met today with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The meeting, at his request, was to seek dialogue and comment from the Commission on the current political process and, in particular, the approach by Government to the forthcoming talks. This is part of a party campaign to ensure that the Government lives up to its commitments on democratic values.
Dermot Nesbitt said: “The Commission has a clear obligation to measure Government policy against international standards for the protection of human rights. I made clear that I viewed that Government was not respecting the wishes of the majority in its latest proposals for progress. This is a clear failure on the part of Government to live up to its agreed commitments.”
Dermot Nesbitt continued: “This is not an argument about unionist versus nationalist but rather to do with respect for rights and the rule of law. The UK Government is not acting in a manner consistent with its international human rights obligations. And the Government, in its keenness to get Sinn Fein back into government, is turning a blind eye to its human rights obligations by conceding to Sinn Fein demands.”
Dermot Nesbitt concluded: “The Human Rights Commission has an obligation to all in Northern Ireland to consider the behaviour of Government in the area of human rights. Its duty is not to unionism but to all who live in Northern Ireland. I await with interest the outcome of my discussions today and I do hope that the Commission will make its views known on the up-coming political talks.”