The first joint meeting of all four UK and Ireland human rights Commissions will get underway in Edinburgh today.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission is hosting the inaugural conference which brings together the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for the first time.

The two-day conference will hear from Justice Albie Sachs, the renowned anti-apartheid campaigner, former political prisoner and Justice on the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

Professor Alan Miller, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said: "I am very pleased to welcome our sister Commissions to Scotland. The conference is an opportunity to work more closely together to promote and protect human rights across the UK and Ireland.

"We are inspired to have Justice Albie Sachs as our honoured guest in a discussion on placing human dignity at the heart of our initiatives, especially in regard to the most vulnerable including those in care, migrants and persons with disability. One way of doing so will be to monitor the implementation of the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which will be under discussion at the event."

The conference will also hear discussions on business and human rights, the use of legal powers, migration, and court interventions domestically and in Europe.

Trevor Phillips OBE, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: "The nations represented here today may face different challenges, but we all stand on common ground. We have a shared responsibility to show how human rights are relevant to everyone, and to persuade people that these principles are rooted in the everyday and the practical, particularly in ensuring public bodies treat the people they are here to serve with dignity and respect. The focus of this inaugural conference on how we can work together and learn from each other is especially welcome."

Dr Maurice Manning, President of the Irish Human Rights Commission, said he is "looking forward to engaging with our sister Commissions in these islands at this important inaugural meeting.

"I want to congratulate the Scottish Human Rights Commission for providing this important new forum this year. The Irish Human Rights Commission is particularly pleased that disability will be a key theme of the conference as this is an area on which we have done considerable work. The opportunity to cooperate with other bodies on the considerable human rights challenges in this area is very welcome."

Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, added:

"We welcome this important event and the focus on enhanced human rights protections for the peoples of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

"As the oldest human rights institution on these islands, we are delighted that Scotland now has a similar Commission and we look forward to working with its commissioners and staff on the many challenges that we share."

ENDS

 NOTES TO EDITORS

1)       The two-day inaugural conference is the first time the four UK and Irish human rights Commissions have formally met.

2)       In addition to speaking to the joint conference of the four commissions Justice Albie Sachs will be speaking at the National Gallery of Scotland on Wednesday evening in an event organised by the Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People. To contact the SCCYP press office please contact Giselle Dye at Pagoda PR on 0131 556 0770 or giselle.dye@pagodapr.com. Images of Justice Sachs are available on request.

3)       For further details please contact Jenifer Johnston / 07833 402 289 / jenifer.johnston@scottishhumanrights.com