Human Rights Commission runs workshop at Derry's NWRC

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has run a workshop with students North West Regional College in Derry.

Students in Creative Practice; Art, Design and Communication looked at the role of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to promote and protect the rights of all in Northern Ireland.

Pupils at the Strand Road Campus explored human rights and the arts, including the rights to freedom of artistic expression and creation, and the right to have access to and enjoy the arts.

Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick said: “It is essential that our young people understand what human rights they have, and what they can do if they feel their rights have not been respected. We want them to know our role in Northern Ireland to promote and protect the human rights of all.

I would like to thank staff at North West Regional College for inviting us out to run our workshop; and students for the enthusiasm in learning about human rights as well as their engagement throughout the workshop. I wish them all the best with the rest of their studies.”

Ursula Coyle, Associate Lecturer at North West Regional College said: “This was a unique opportunity for our students to explore and develop their understanding of context. Learning about the breadth and depth of the work the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission undertakes, that is influential locally, nationally and internationally was inspirational, resulting in the generation of ideas for new work.

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"Thanks to Jason McKeown and Michael Boyd from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission our students have extended their knowledge. The workshop was engaging, educational and art specific.

"They felt their views and opinions where heard. It resulted in our students understanding how they, as artists have the rights and the visual voices that can be used to highlight and challenge injustices in societies, by focusing on human rights issues within their work.”