'Root-and-branch reform of legacy mechanisms must be more than a rebrand’ - Gráinne Teggart

Responding to the UK and Irish government’s new framework on dealing with the legacy of the Northern Ireland conflict, Gráinne Teggart, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Northern Ireland, said:

"We will carefully examine this framework to assess whether it fully complies with the European Convention on Human Rights and whether it can genuinely deliver for victims. For too long, families have been met with secrecy, impunity and the denial of their right to truth, this must end.

"Full transparency, genuine accountability and the right to truth have been denied for decades. Root-and-branch reform of legacy mechanisms must be more than a rebrand. Victims have been clear: they will not accept half-measures. Any process must put rights at the centre and deliver truth and accountability, not erase them.

"The detail in forthcoming legislation will be critical to determining whether this framework is meaningful. 

"Amnesty has long called for the Legacy Act to be replaced with a process that builds on the Stormont House Agreement, has the confidence and participation of victims, and meets human rights standards. This framework and subsequent legislation must meet those tests and be changed or rejected if they fail them."