Plans by the British government to ban future prosecutions related to the Troubles in Northern Ireland are set to be opposed to the UN Human Rights Council by relatives of victims and Amnesty International.
The group will deliver their statement during a meeting with Fabian Salvioli, UN special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed these plans in July; they were met with much criticism from Troubles victims’ groups as well as leading political parties in Northern Ireland and the Irish government. Johnson had claimed that the move would allow “a line to be drawn” under the events of the past.
Salvioli (along with Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Morris Tidball-Binz) previously expressed “grave concern that the plan outlined in July's statement forecloses the pursuit of justice and accountability for the serious human rights violations committed during the Troubles”, saying that it “thwarts victims' rights to truth and to an effective remedy for the harm suffered”.
The NI-based Committee on the Administration of Justice has also made a statement to the UNHRC on the proposals, stating that they “urge the Human Rights Council to echo the concerns expressed by the Special Rapporteurs that the UK proposals would breach their international human rights obligations.”
Statements to the press from some of the victims’ relatives appearing before the UNHRC, as well as Amnesty International, can be read here and here.