Below you’ll find a comprehensive library of the Equality Coalition’s reports, submissions and other publications. These documents are produced in collaboration with our members.<\/p>\n\n\n
RECENT PUBLICATIONS<\/p>\n
\u2018Inciting a Pogrom?\u2019 Social Media and the Racist Disorder in Ballymena and beyond during summer 2025 Click here<\/a> to view the report.<\/p>\n Submission to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee’s Review of Assembly and Executive Reform<\/strong> To read our submission, click here: Assembly & Executive Review Committee submission<\/a><\/p>\n New Report: ‘Screened Out Without Mitigation’ Returning Equality in Northern Ireland to the Margins Authored by independent researcher Dr Robbie McVeigh and commissioned by the Equality Coalition, the report provides background on the legacy of sectarian discrimination in local government, explores ongoing tensions between the duties to promote \u2018equality of opportunity\u2019 and \u2018good relations\u2019 at council level, and highlights key issues in the collection and use of equality data – including significant gaps.<\/span><\/p>\n The report includes case studies from Equality Coalition members detailing their experiences using Section 75 to challenge council decisions or policies, and it explores how the \u2018call-in\u2019 mechanism is functioning in practice, outlining both its intended purpose and emerging concerns about its use.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, the report sets out a series of recommendations – some aimed at improving the implementation of Section 75, and others specifically directed at local councils<\/span><\/p>\n Submission by the Equality Coalition to the draft Programme for Government Consultation<\/strong> Our response focuses on:<\/p>\n To read our response, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Equality Coalition Committee for Communities Oral Evidence<\/strong> 1. Send a letter to the Department for Communities and to the Executive expressing Committee concerns around the delay in bringing forward an Anti-Poverty Strategy, to ask what the reasons are for the delay and to ask for the Department\u2019s view on the risk of potential legal action in relation to the continued failure to bring forward a strategy in line with its statutory obligation.<\/p>\n 2. Send a letter to all Departments to ask if they have taken poverty into account when considering their budgets and to ask if they have liaised with the Minister for Communities on the need to introduce an antipoverty strategy as soon as possible.<\/p>\n To read our written evidence, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n To watch the evidence session (2:22:50), click here\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Seminar Report: How could minority and women’s rights be protected in a united Ireland?<\/strong> On 15th November 2023, the Equality Coalition and the Transitional Justice Institute, with support from the LSE Gender, Justice and Security Hub, hosted a seminar which discussed how the rights of minorities and women could be protected in a United Ireland. The seminar consisted of two panels. Panel one covered issues around post-unification cross-border constitutionalism, unionist rights in a united Ireland and linguistic minority rights in a united Ireland. Panel two discussed how to define, guarantee and protect women\u2019s rights in a united Ireland and women\u2019s participation in constitutional change.<\/p>\n Our seminar report is now available for download here.<\/a><\/p>\n Seminar Report: Could rights-based safeguards make Stormont functional?<\/strong> On 13th October 2023, the Equality Coalition and the Transitional Justice Institute, with support from the LSE Gender, Justice and Security Hub, hosted a seminar which explored whether rights-based safeguards could make Stormont functional. The seminar consisted of two panels. Panel one covered a range of issues including a Bill of Rights, Stormont vetoes, and judicial interventions. Panel two covered issues around abortion, gender and policy-making, and featured a comparative discussion on the Dayton Accords and the Good Friday Agreement.<\/p>\n Our seminar report is now available for download here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Progressing an anti-poverty strategy for Northern Ireland – Seminar report<\/strong> On 28 June 2023, the Equality Coalition, Barnardo\u2019s NI, and the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network (NIAPN) held a joint seminar calling for the development of an anti-poverty strategy to be a day one priority for the next NI Executive. \u2018Progressing an anti-poverty strategy for Northern Ireland\u2019 took place at Stormont and was sponsored\u00a0 by MLAs from five political parties. Northern Ireland has been waiting for an anti-poverty strategy for almost twenty years following a commitment arising from the 2006 St Andrews Agreement legislation. During the seminar, expert speakers examined what progress has been made to date in developing the strategy, while also considering what needs to be included within the strategy to make it as effective as possible.<\/p>\n A comprehensive report from the seminar has now been compiled and can be downloaded here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Progressing an anti-poverty strategy for Northern Ireland – Briefing note<\/strong> The Equality Coalition, Barnardo\u2019s NI, and the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network (NIAPN) have produced a joint briefing note<\/a> calling for the development of an anti-poverty strategy to be a day one priority for the next NI Executive. The three organisations launched the briefing at a seminar held in Stormont on Wednesday 28 June 2023. Northern Ireland has already been waiting for an anti-poverty strategy for almost twenty years.<\/p>\n Policy Asks 2022<\/strong> The Equality Coalition has developed a series of \u2018Policy Asks<\/a>\u2019 for Northern Ireland, which have a particular emphasis on rights and equality. These \u2018asks\u2019 are based on a recent <\/span>mapping exercise<\/a> <\/span>examining the status of rights-based commitments from the agreements of the NI peace process.<\/span><\/p>\n Submission in relation to the ECNI draft legal assistance policy The Equality Coalition for NI (ECNI) recently consulted on their new (draft) Policy for the Provision of Legal Advice and Assistance. In response, we produced a submission<\/a> suggesting a number of changes to the draft document. Our recommendations focus primarily on encouraging ECNI to use their enforcement powers strategically and proactively going forwards.<\/p>\n Generic submission to draft equality schemes out for consultation in 2021<\/strong> Since the advent of Section 75, the Equality Coalition has engaged extensively with public authorities in relation to their equality schemes. In 2016, when a number of reorganised public authorities were consulting on their schemes, we drafted a generic submission to provide advice to them on best practice. This submission has now been updated<\/a> for 2021 as a number of public bodies are once again working on updating their schemes.<\/p>\n Briefing summarising the Expert Advisory Panel reports on the social inclusion strategies<\/strong> In March 2021, the Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey published the reports of four Expert Advisory Panels to help inform the development of the new social inclusion strategies for Northern Ireland. We have drafted a short briefing paper<\/a> summarising each of the four reports and their key recommendations.<\/p>\n Submission on Programme for Government outcomes and draft budget We have finalised our submission<\/a> on the Programme for Government (PfG) outcomes and draft budget (including departmental screenings\/EQIAs). Given their interlinking nature, this submission responds to a number of different, concurrent consultations at once. Our submission examines the rights and equality implications of current plans, including whether the Section 75 statutory equality duty has been applied adequately throughout the budgetary process. We include recommendations for each department in the NI Executive, as well as the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), drawing attention to outstanding issues that still need to be addressed.<\/p>\n Stormont\u2019s vetoes in the context of a pandemic \u2013 An Equality Coalition briefing note<\/strong> In 2019, our Manifesto for a Rights Based Return to Power Sharing<\/a> called for a new agreement to remove those political vetoes within the NI Executive that are not based on (and have conflicted with) equality and rights duties, and as such contributed to the destabilisation and collapse of the NI Executive in 2017. The issue returned to prominence in November 2020 with the DUP twice using the \u2018St Andrews Veto\u2019 to block the extension of public health measures proposed by the Health Minister to contain the pandemic, which were supported by all other parties. In response, the Equality Coalition has produced a briefing note<\/a> setting out the human rights implications of the veto being used in this way.<\/p>\n Written Evidence to the NI Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on the Bill of Rights from the Equality Coalition Co-Conveners<\/strong> A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland was first promised in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, but progress towards its development has repeatedly stalled. The establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bill of Rights at Stormont represents a fresh attempt to move things forward. On 22 October 2020, the Co-Conveners of the Equality Coalition (CAJ and UNISON) gave a briefing to the Ad Hoc Committee in support of the Bill of Rights. You can download the\u00a0written evidence we provided to Committee members here<\/a>. Minutes from the session are also available online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Equality Proofing the Return to School \u2013 Briefing Paper<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong> The Covid-19 pandemic has had far reaching impacts on all aspects of NI society, not least education, with most pupils being withdrawn from school for five months due to the strict lockdown period and the subsequent summer break. As staff and students begin the new school term, we must ensure that their return to school is carried out in a way that is safe for everyone, with all decisions subjected to appropriate Section 75 assessment processes to ensure they promote equality of opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Equality Coalition\u2019s Education Sub-Group has put together a briefing paper to highlight to decision makers how to \u2018equality proof\u2019 the return to school. Download it here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sectarianism: The Key Facts Commissioned by the\u00a0Equality Coalition<\/a>, independent researcher Dr Robbie McVeigh has authored a piece of research on contemporary sectarianism in Northern Ireland. Across 50 pages, Sectarianism: The Key Facts\u00a0looks at \u2018institutional sectarianism\u2019 in NI \u2013 especially where there is evidence of sectarianism in decision-making.<\/p>\n The full report can be downloaded via\u00a0this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n Defining Public Duties to Tackle Incitement to Hatred whilst Respecting Freedom of Expression: Reviewing the Legal & Policy Framework – Conference Report A one-day conference was held on 13 October 2017 to explore, from a human rights perspective, when public authorities can or must act against speech and cultural expression in order to protect the rights of others. The event was organised by the Equality Coalition, with support from the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice<\/a>. It was comprised of presentations, panel discussions and a series of afternoon workshops, all exploring different themes related to the legal framework (both local and international) on countering incitement to hatred.<\/p>\n From the proceedings of this conference, a comprehensive 90 page report has been published. Download it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Post-Brexit Citizenship Status: Divided by the Rules? – Conference Report<\/strong> In March 2019, the Equality Coalition, in partnership with BrexitLawNI<\/a>, held a major conference on \u2018Post-Brexit Citizenship Status: Divided by the Rules?\u2019 in the Moot Court Room at Queen\u2019s University Belfast. Featuring expert practioner and political panels, the conference explored how Brexit will transform the citizenship landscape in Northern Ireland and could lead to hardened entitlement boundaries between different groups of citizens here.<\/p>\n A 60 page report has been produced from the proceedings of the conference. You can download a digital version of the report here<\/a>. Hard copies are available upon request by emailing equalitycoalition@caj.org.uk<\/a> or calling 028 9031 6000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Response to consultation on ECNI\u2019s complaints and investigation procedures The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) has been reviewing and revising the procedures related to its enforcement (investigation) powers. These powers enable ECNI to investigate public bodies that fail to comply with their Section 75 duties. In March 2019, ECNI launched a public consultation on its (draft) \u2018Revised Policy and Procedures for Complaints and Investigations\u2019. The Equality Coalition responded to this consultation with a detailed written submission, which raises several issues that we strongly urge ECNI to rectify.<\/p>\n Submission available for download here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Manifesto for a Rights Based Return to Power Sharing More than two years have elapsed since the devolved power sharing institutions provided for under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) collapsed in Northern Ireland. Additionally, many of the rights based commitments of the peace settlement, including those originally designed as to act as safeguards on the NI Executive and Assembly, remain unimplemented or have been misimplemented. Fresh cross-party talks to restore power sharing have been announced for May 2019. However, there is little point in restoring the institutions only for them to fail to deliver and collapse again for the same reasons. Conscious of this, the Equality Coalition has developed a \u2018Manifesto for a Rights Based Return to Power Sharing\u2019.<\/p>\n Follow this link<\/a> to download the manifesto. An Irish language version has also been published<\/a>, with help from Conradh na Gaeilge. A larger font version in either language is available upon request – email equalitycoalition@caj.org.uk<\/a> or call 028 9031 6000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ARCHIVE<\/p>\n Incitement to Hatred in Northern Ireland \u2013 Research Report by Dr Robbie McVeigh for the Equality Coalition<\/strong> Download report<\/a><\/p>\n Equal to the Task? <\/strong>Investigative powers and effective enforcement of the <\/strong>\u2018Section 75\u2019 equality duty – a<\/strong>n Equality Coalition Research Report Download executive summary<\/a><\/p>\n Download full report<\/a><\/p>\n Meeting Objective Need: <\/strong>Towards an Anti Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland – C<\/strong>onference Report Download conference report<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition Recent Achievements Booklet 2015\/16 Download booklet<\/a><\/p>\n Generic submission to draft equality schemes out for consultation in 2016-17 Download template<\/a><\/p>\n A Fresh Start for Equality? <\/strong>The Equality Impacts of the Stormont House Agreement on the Two Main Communities – a<\/strong>n Action Research Intervention Download executive summary <\/a><\/p>\n Download full report<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition Recent Achievements Booklet 2014\/15 Download booklet<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition Effective Consultation Guidance Download guidance<\/a><\/p>\n Austerity and Inequality: \u2018A Threat to Peace?\u2019 – Conference Report<\/strong> Download report<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition response to the OFMDFM Childcare Strategy Consultation Download submission<\/a><\/p>\n Key Points arising from the Austerity and Inequality Conference<\/strong> Download conference key points<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition response to the OFMDFM Consultation on Proposals to Extend Age Discrimination Legislation (Age Goods, Facilities and Services) Download submission<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition submission to DUP Conscience Clause Consultation Download submission<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition submission to DOJ Consultation on the Criminal Law on Abortion Download submission<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition submission on the NI Executive draft Budget 2015\/16 Download submission<\/a><\/p>\n Expert Paper on Good Relations in Northern Ireland Download paper<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition submission to the (newly formed) 11 district councils on their draft Equality Schemes Download submission<\/a><\/p>\n Expert Paper on Sectarianism in Northern Ireland Download paper<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition EQIA on Welfare Reform Download report<\/a><\/p>\n Equality Coalition submission to DHSSPS on Transforming Your Care Download submission<\/a><\/p>\n Submission to the Ad Hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements
<\/strong>The Equality Coalition has launched a new report: ‘\u2018Inciting a Pogrom?\u2019 Social Media and the Racist Disorder in Ballymena and beyond during summer 2025’. The report examines the racist violence that erupted in Ballymena in June 2025 and quickly spread across Northern Ireland. It explores how social media narratives amplified fear and hostility, fueling offline attacks, and how local organising efforts and political responses shaped the escalation.<\/p>\n
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The Equality Coalition has responded to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee’s (AERC) Review into Assembly and Executive Reform.\u00a0\u00a0
Our submission includes several key asks:<\/p>\n\n
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<\/strong>This report examines how the statutory equality duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, as well as the use of the \u2018call-in\u2019 mechanism, are operating within Northern Ireland\u2019s 11 local councils.<\/span><\/p>\n
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The Equality Coalition has submitted our response to the draft Programme for Government consultation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
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On 25 April, the Equality Coalition gave evidence to the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Communities on the Anti-Poverty Strategy.\u00a0 Daniel Holder (CAJ), John-Patrick Clayton (UNISON), Becca Bor (Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network) and Tr\u00e1sa Canavan (Barnardo\u2019s) represented the Coalition. They spoke about the duty to adopt an Anti-Poverty Strategy, judicial reviews of the Northern Ireland Executive and the 2020-2022 Mandate to present. The Committee agreed to:<\/p>\n
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