In its latest effort to promote peace in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom's parliament is aiming to pass the Legacy and Reconciliation Bill. The proposed bill would severely limit the ability of Northern Ireland's police and judiciary to investigate and punish those responsible for decades of unsolved violence, paramilitary terrorism, and extrajudicial killings. Volume XLVI staff member Matthew Berkowitz argues that the proposed bill, as it stands, may violate several of the United Kingdom's positive obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights. This post explores the implications of the proposed bill, and whether it will actually help to undue decades of sectarian tension.
Read More