Scope Articles

Human Rights: lockdown and digital surveillance

7 May 2020

The Coronavirus Act is one of the most repressive pieces of legislation ever enacted by government. Scope talks to NI Human Rights Chief Commissioner Les Allamby about the implications.

Stormont’s back – and everyone’s inbox is full

Stormont’s return has left the NIHRC annual statement out of date, sort of - but it’s also more relevant than when it was published.

16 Jan 2020

The Assembly’s return is a big deal and surely better than the past three years. However, the list of issues MLAs face is enormous. Scope looks at human rights in NI.

The price of rights

9 Aug 2019

The NI Human Rights Commission is struggling to function within its current budgets. Recurrent cuts have left some of its main functions unavailable. This needs to change.

Human Rights in NI – sleepwalking towards disaster

Lord Duncan of Springbank, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Commissioner Les Allamby at the launch of the statement this week

14 Dec 2018

The Human Rights Commission published its Annual Statement this week. We have plenty of problems, too few solutions, and the problems stemming from our lack of a government only ever grow in number.

Secular disagreements and the risk of circular discussions

A still from the new NIHRC/EANI animation

27 Apr 2018

Northern Ireland - like much of the world - is becoming more secular. However, this means different things to different people, which makes the process more difficult.

Time to debate our treatment of Travellers

9 Mar 2018

This week saw the publication of a report into discrimination against Travellers published by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

There is nothing right about an absence of government

26 Jan 2018

The absence of local political leadership is having a harmful effect on human rights, according to the Human Rights Commissioner.

Big Brother and Big Data

15 Dec 2017

Les Allamby, chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned about the impact of technological surveillance on privacy rights

Westminster wants a greater say in NI rights

Left to right: John McCallister (Commissioner); Helena Macormac (Commissioner); Chief Commissioner, Les Allamby; Eddie Rooney (Commissioner); The Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP; Helen Ferguson (Commissioner); and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Chief Executive, David Russell at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's 2017 Annual Statement Launch.

15 Dec 2017

MPs are growing more confident and strident about taking a lead in rights issues in Northern Ireland. Local people, activists and politicians should take notice – the balance on matters like abortion and gay marriage might be about to tip.

The machines are coming – but what does that mean?

17 Nov 2017

What do we want from technology? Specifically, what do we as individuals and a society want – and not want – from artificial intelligence? These questions need to be answered now.

Voting: not a blind ballot for everyone

25 May 2017

The secret electoral ballot is a right some exercise zealously and others waive – but a few people don’t have a choice. Joe Kenny explains.

Accepting redemption is difficult

Are prisons just about punishment, or should we expect more?

22 Mar 2017

In the week Martin McGuinness passed away, Scope examines the nature of redemption by looking at another man's story - double murderer Erwin James, who spoke in Belfast on Monday - and asks what society wants from its prisons.

Debate of the Week – Housing Associations: Reclassification

12 Oct 2016

This week’s look at Stormont’s plenary sessions focuses on the ONS’s reclassification of local Housing Associations to public bodies.

A solution or a fix?

7 Sep 2016

Proposals for new electoral boundaries in Northern Ireland are out for consultation. So far, so calm - but expect more fiery opposition, and support, when the effects on party representation in Stormont are seen more clearly.

Weak partnerships failing children in Northern Ireland

19 Aug 2016

Children who find themselves in the most difficult situations are being let down by failures in partnership working – growing evidence suggests local agencies struggle to deal with complex problems

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