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2015

Protection of Human Rights Advocates in Northern Ireland

Members

Hon. Christopher Smith

Chairman

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. Benjamin Gilman

Chairman

Committee on International Relations

Hon. Joseph Pitts

Commissioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Witnesses

Harold Hongju Koh

Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

Department of State

Geraldine Finucane

Widow of Patrick Finucane

Eunan Magee

Brother of Rosemary Nelson

Jane Winter

Director

British Irish Rights Watch

Paul Mageean

Legal Officer

Committee on the Administration of Justice

Michael Posner

Executive Director

Lawyers Committee for Human Rights

This hearing examined allegations of the involvement of security forces in intimidation and harassment of human rights advocates in Northern Ireland. The hearing focused on the unsolved murders of two Belfast defense attorneys, Rosemary Nelson, and Patrick Finucane, killed in 1999 and 1989. Commissioner Harold Hongju Koh, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, expressed the State Department’s concern with that there was not sufficient protection of lawyers, the rule of law, and human rights in Northern Ireland.  Commissioner Smith noted that “Defense attorneys are the ‘Helsinki Commissioners’ of Northern Ireland. The OSCE can be a valuable forum in which to provide cover for these human rights advocates. The United States and United Kingdom are quick to criticize emerging democracies that fail to abide by the rule of law and due process. The best way to lead in these matters is by example.”

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Press Releases

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Articles

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Hearings

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Articles

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Press Releases

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Press Releases

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Press Releases

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Press Releases

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