Approximately 400 students at Regent House Grammar School in Newtownards have taken part in human rights workshops delivered by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC).

The commission led 11 sessions at the school, continuing a partnership now in its third year. Miss Byrne, Head of Learning for Life and Work, said the workshops help deliver information on diversity, discrimination and racism, and ensure pupils are aware of their human rights.

NIHRC Chief Executive David Russell attended the engagement and said the programme is part of a wider series of school visits across Northern Ireland. He stressed the importance of speaking directly with young people about their rights and hearing their views on how the commission can best support them.

During the workshops, students learned about the role of the NIHRC, international human rights protections including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Human Rights Act 1998. They also discussed practical examples of rights violations and the links between sport and human rights.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was established as a statutory body in 1999 to promote and protect human rights in the region, reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of UK Government measures.