Title

Protection of Human Rights Advocates in Northern Ireland

Tuesday, March 14, 2000
United States
Members: 
Name: 
Hon. Christopher Smith
Title Text: 
Chairman
Body: 
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Name: 
Hon. Benjamin Gilman
Title Text: 
Chairman
Body: 
Committee on International Relations
Name: 
Hon. Joseph Pitts
Title Text: 
Commissioner
Body: 
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Witnesses: 
Name: 
Harold Hongju Koh
Title: 
Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Body: 
Department of State
Name: 
Geraldine Finucane
Title: 
Widow of Patrick Finucane
Name: 
Eunan Magee
Title: 
Brother of Rosemary Nelson
Name: 
Jane Winter
Title: 
Director
Body: 
British Irish Rights Watch
Name: 
Paul Mageean
Title: 
Legal Officer
Body: 
Committee on the Administration of Justice
Name: 
Michael Posner
Title: 
Executive Director
Body: 
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.”

Relevant countries: 
Leadership: 
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