National Human Rights Institutions
Specialised human rights bodies
Her Majesty's Courts & Tribunals Service is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It provides for a fair, efficient and effective justice system delivered by an independent judiciary.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service aims to ensure that all citizens receive timely access to justice according to their different needs, whether as victims or witnesses of crime, defendants accused of crimes, consumers in debt, children at risk of harm, businesses involved in commercial disputes or as individuals asserting their employment rights or challenging the decisions of government bodies.
For information about contacting courts see: http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/hmcts/courts/index.htm
For information about contacting tribunals see: http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/hmcts/tribunals/index.htm
The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) is an agency of the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland. It provides administrative support to the Northern Ireland’s courts, i.e. the Court of Appeal, High Court, crown court, county courts, magistrates’ courts and coroner’s courts. It also provides administrative support for tribunals and enforces civil court judgments through the Enforcement of Judgments Office.
Web: https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/topics/courts-and-tribunals
Contact details: http://www.courtsni.gov.uk/en-GB/ContactDetails/
Proceedings in Northern Ireland are similar to those in England and Wales. High Court proceedings are commenced by a writ and county court proceedings are commenced by a civil bill or a small claims application. These must be served on the defendant, who will have a right to defend against the action. Judgments of civil courts are enforceable through a centralised procedure administered by the Enforcement of Judgments Office.
The Northern Ireland Human rights Commission (NIHRC) is a national human rights institution with A status accreditation from the United Nations (UN). NIHRC is funded by United Kingdom government, but is an independent public body that operates in full accordance with the UN Paris Principles.
Our job is to make sure government and other public bodies protect the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland. We also help people understand what their human rights are and what they can do if their rights are denied or violated.
Contact Details:
Temple Court 39 North Street Belfast Northern Ireland BT1 1NA Tel: +44 (0)28 9024 3987 Email: information@nihrc.org Web: http://www.nihrc.org/This ombudsman was set up by Parliament to help both individuals and the public.
Our role is to investigate complaints that individuals have been treated unfairly or have received por service from government departments and other public organisations and the NHS in England. Our powers are set out in law and our service is free for everyone.
Contact Details
The Parliamentary and Health Service OmbudsmanThe Commissioner for Children and Young People is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was established in October 2003.
The current Commissioner is Koulla Yiasouma and her role is to safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young people in Northern Ireland. The Commissioner shall also have regard to any relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The sponsor Department is the Department for Communities
Contact Details:
NICCY Equality House 7-9 Shaftesbury Square Belfast Northern Ireland BT2 7DP Tel: 028 9031 1616 Email: info@niccy.org Web: http://www.niccy.org/The Commissioner for Older People is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was set up in November 2011. The current Commissioner is Eddie Lynch and his role is to safeguard and promote the interests of older people in Northern Ireland.
Contact Details:
COPNI Equality House 7-9 Shaftesbury Square Belfast Northern Ireland BT2 7DP Tel: 028 9089 0892 Email: info@copni.org Web: http://www.copni.org/Contact details:
Equality House 7-9 Shaftesbury Square Belfast Northern Ireland BT 2 7DP Tel: 028 90 500 600 Email: information@equalityni.org Web:http://www.equalityni.orgThe Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is a non departmental public body established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Our powers and duties derive from a number of statutes which have been enacted over the last decades, providing protection against discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, race, religion and political opinion, sex and sexual orientation. We also have responsibilities arising from the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in respect of the statutory equality and good relations duties which apply to public authorities.
Our sponsor Department is the Executive Office.
The Information Commissioner’s Office is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals
Contact Details
Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Tel: 0303 123 1113 (or 01625 545745 if you would prefer not to call an ‘03’ number, or +44 1625 545745 if calling from overseas) Web: https://ico.org.uk/Northern Ireland
Information Commissioner's Office – Northern Ireland 3rd floor, 14 Cromac Place Belfast, Northern Ireland BT7 2JB Tel: 028 9026 9380 Email: ni@ico.org.ukThe Official UK Government website for citizens of the UK.
Web: http://www.gov.uk
The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policy makers.
Web: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
The Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission ("the commission") is a Non Departmental Public Body of the Department of Justice (DOJ) established under the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. The Minister of Justice, David Ford, has indicated his intention to transfer the responsibilities of the commission to an executive agency within the Department in Autumn 2014. The new organisation will be called the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland. This transfer will not fundamentally change the overall provision of services, but will deliver a range of important governance improvements and efficiency savings.
The Commission's role is to administer the provision of publicly funded legal services in keeping with the statutory legal aid schemes. We apply statutory tests to determine whether an individual should receive civil legal aid and if eligible, we pay solicitors and barristers for the legal services provided. While the judiciary is responsible for the granting of criminal legal aid, the commission also pays for the corresponding legal services provided. In addition to administering the legal aid scheme, we also provide input to support the DOJ in its programme of work to reform legal aid.
Contact details:
The Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission 2nd Floor, Waterfront Plaza, 8 Laganbank Road, Mays Meadow, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 3BN Tel: +44 (0)28 9040 8888 Web:http://www.nilsc.org.ukIts mission is to promote fair and equal access to justice in Northern Ireland in its provision of publicly funded legal services.
Its aim is to provide high quality, customer focused services that target those in greatest need and demonstrate value for money.
They lawyers and other advice providers:
The role of the Victims’ Commissioner is to promote the interests of victims and witnesses, encourage good practice in their treatment, and regularly review the Code of Practice for Victims which sets out the services victims can expect to receive.
The Commissioner is here to listen to the views of victims and witnesses, understand the criminal justice system from their point of view and try to help improve the services and support available.
Please note that by law, the Commissioner is not allowed to intervene in specific cases. However, we will endeavour to provide direction of where to get the best advice and support.
Contact Details:
Central Office Victim Support NI Annsgate House 3rd Floor 70/74 Ann Street Belfast Northern Ireland BT 1 4EH Tel: 028 9024 3133 Email: belfast@victimsupportni.org.ukVictim Support Northern Ireland is the charity which helps people affected by any type of crime. We provide emotional support, information and practical help to victims, witnesses and others affected by crime.
Victim Support NI is the leading charity supporting people affected by crime. We offer a free and confidential service, whether or not a crime has been reported. We are an independent organisation - not part of the police, courts or any other criminal justice agency.
Each year Victim Support NI offers help to almost 30,000 people who have been affected by crime.
The Prisoner Ombudsman is appointed by the Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland and is completely independent of the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS).
The Prisoner Ombudsman investigates :
The current Ombudsman is Tom McGonigle, and a team of investigators and other staff support him.
Contact Details:
5th Floor 21 Bloomsbury Street London WC1B 3HF Tel: 020 7211 1500The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) is an independent, non-departmental public body set up under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 give the Immigration Services Commissioner various powers including:
For further information see: http://www.oisc.gov.uk
Contact Details:
Commission for Victims and Survivors
Equality House
7-9 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast
BT2 7DP
Tel: 028 9031 1000
Fax: 028 9060 7424
The Commission for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland believe passionately in their work and the rights of all victims and survivors to be heard, to be respected and to have access to services that are the best they can be. The Commission for Victims and Survivors aims to improve the lives of victims and survivors of the Conflict.
It is their mission to address the needs of all victims and survivors by ensuring excellent service provision, acknowledging the legacy of the past and building for a better future. Its work is underpinned by a number of core values which they use in their day to day work. They seek outcomes based on the fulfillment of these values. These values are as follows:
For further information see http://www.cvsni.org
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