About Us

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What we do

The Consortium provides a coherent, unified, non-party political coalition for civic society groups to develop the recognition, respect, protection and implementation of human rights standards in Northern Ireland.

We do this is by providing a platform for civil society groups to work together to achieve this aim through collaboration across different sectors and issues.

We also work to advance awareness, understanding and support for human rights generally in Northern Ireland.

A core element of this work to date has been our ongoing campaign for a strong Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Supplemented in recent years with an emerging focus on human rights frameworks, positively influencing perspectives on human rights and supporting civil society to become engaged in human rights advocacy.

Our Members

The Consortium is made up of 160 member groups who are organisations in their own right. Each member is non-party political, non – governmental and supportive of the Consortium principles. Our membership organisations are drawn from a range of sectors and geographic areas and include community groups, trade unions, NGO’s and charities.

Our Trustees

  • Fiona McCausland, NIAPN (Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network)
  • Thomas Mahaffy, UNISON
  • Tony O’Reilly, NWFPD (North West Forum of People with Disabilities) (Chairperson)
  • Elizabeth Nelson, BFN (Belfast Feminist Network)
  • Patricia Kelly, Children’s Law Centre
  • Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International (Treasurer)
  • Nuala Toman, Disability Action
  • Declan Owens, Rights and Security International

Our Staff

  • Kevin Hanratty

    Director

    Kevin Hanratty is the Director of the Human Rights Consortium and is responsible for the day to day management of the Consortium and the delivery of its programmatic activities. Kevin has worked for the Consortium since 2006. He has previously worked as a Human Rights Officer with the OSCE Field Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Political Consultant with the NDI in Macedonia and in policy and research work for the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

  • Olivia Potter-Hughes

    Human Rights Officer

    Olivia Potter-Hughes is the Consortium’s Human Rights Officer and is responsible for helping to develop our communications and campaigning work, including our ‘Make Our Future Fair‘ campaign to advance additional human rights standards and protections for Northern Ireland. She also co-ordinates our annual Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival. Olivia joined the Consortium in 2020. She is a former president of Northern Ireland’s national student union, NUS-USI.