The announcement that there will be an inquiry into child abuse in Northern Ireland has been welcomed by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission after recommendations made by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and Special Rapporteur in 2006.
NIHRC Chief Commissioner, Professor Michael O'Flaherty (who recently took over the position of from Professor Monica McWilliams), said:
"The UN's Special Rapporteur on Children has said that 'None of us can look children in the eye if we continue to approve or condone any form of violence against them'. States have a clear obligation to ensure accountability in every case of violence to children. Investigative guidelines developed through international human rights law around independence of the inquiry panel, involvement of victims and survivors, timeliness and ability to identify and hold perpetrators responsible will be essential".
Click here to view the piece by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
On a related note, Bulletin readers may recall that Amnesty International Ireland described child abuse suffered by children at the hands of the Irish State as torture under international law.