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.”
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
Relevant Issues
Relevant Countries
Leadership
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