| Bill
of Rights debated at VAST conference Andersonstown News
13-11-2000
Debate: Coiste Co-ordinator Mike Ritchie with Alex Attwood at the Human Rights
Conference.
(Picture by courtesy of the Andersonstown News 13-11-2000)
|
The implementation of the new Bill of Rights
came under the spotlight in West Belfast last week at a human rights conference organised
by local victim support group ‘Vast’. Chaired by Brice Dickson, Chairperson
of. the Bantam Rights Commission, the public conference attracted a cross section of local
political representatives - but was snubbed by Unionists.
SDLP MLA Alex Attwood, Alliance's Stephen Farrie and Women's Coalition spokesperson
Kate Fearon and Sinn Fein's Mary Nellis took questions from the floor on their approach to
the human rights issue as well as the role of the Commission.
Brendan Ó Lochlainn, Vast Chairperson emphasised the long term significance of the
event for the local community.
"Given the pending Bill of Rights we in VAST see this a very important conference
in our programme of debates and an excellent opportunity to allow the public to have some
form of input into the formulation of the Bill."
Meanwhile West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood proposed that the community Itself must take
ownership of this 'touchstone issue'.
"Human rights and the blueprint for this bill are too important to be left to
Peter Mandelson given his handling of the Patten proposals on policing," added Sinn
Féin's Mary Nellis. |
