The Bar of Ireland: Justice Week – 1-5 March

Justice Week is an annual joint awareness campaign of the legal professions across the four jurisdictions (Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, England & Wales). It aims to promote an understanding and awareness of access to justice and the rule of law, particularly among young people.

The focus for 2021 will be the impact that COVID-19 has had on citizens’ rights and the administration of justice, with particular emphasis on the important role which the Rule of Law and the Justice System play in responding effectively to a public health crisis.

The Rule of Law and a robust justice system are vital to ensuring a coordinated and effective society-wide response to a pandemic. One that instils public trust; protects rights; addresses inequities; upholds accountability; and ensures a balanced and proportionate response where citizens’ rights and the public interest are concerned.

Over the course of the week, The Bar of Ireland will host a series of events and initiatives under the following themes:

• Access to Justice
• Protecting Fundamental Rights
• Access to Education
• Safeguarding Public Health

Programme of Events

Monday, 1st March – Access to Justice

• Launch of Justice Week with a video message from the Chief Justice. 

Tuesday, 2nd March – Protecting Fundamental Rights

• Panel discussion with legal and policy experts on fundamental rights implications of the pandemic.Speakers include:

Pierre Francois Docquir, Head of the Media Freedom Programme of ARTICLE 19

Sunniva McDonagh SC, Vice-Chairperson, Fundamental Rights Agency

Mark Little, CEO, Kinzen,

Register here.

• Launch of e-resource for secondary school students about the Constitution of Ireland

Wednesday, 3rd March – Access to Education

• Live virtual intervarsity debate featuring students from UCD, UCC, UL, MU, NUIG, DCU, TCD and TU Dublin – Register here.

• Hear from TY students on how the pandemic has impacted on their education

Thursday, 4th March – Safeguarding Public Health

• Hear from Dr. Mike Ryan on the importance of the rule of law and justice in a global health pandemic

• Interview with Colm Scott Byrne BL on the constitutionality of mandatory vaccinations.

Friday, 5th March – Week Round Up

• A look back at the week’s activities

More details to be announced in the coming weeks…!

How can you participate?

Justice Week is a valuable platform on which you or your organisation can promote or highlight your justice-related activities, policy priorities, research or other outputs, particularly where COVID-19 is concerned.

For example:

• Promote a recently published report, paper or policy position
• Organise a talk or panel discussion on how COVID has impacted your area of practice or area of concern
• Engage your community/following on social media using the umbrella hashtag #JusticeWeek2021 

If you would like to support the campaign and to use it as a platform on which to promote your own activities, a suite of graphics/imagery is available to download here.