Participation and the Practice of Rights Project

The Participation and the Practice of Rights Project aims to give individuals, groups and communities the tools and support they need to actively assert and campaign for their social and economic human rights.
 


From Pillar to Post: Mental Health Event at Stormont

On 21st May 2009, a leading international expert on health and human rights (Dr. Helen Potts) joined the PIPS/Greater Shankill Bereaved Families Rights Group to help lead a discussion with MLAs and health agencies at The Long Gallery at Stromont.

The discussion, entitled "From Pillar to Post: Linking Meaningful Participation to Improved Service Delivery", will highlight the crucial role of participation of mental health service users in shaping the delivery of effective mental health services.

Download a copy of the group's pamphlet about their work for other mental health service users and organisations.  Watch the video on our YouTube station here .
 

The Girdwood Gamble   Girdwood gamble report cover

The Girdwood Residents’ Jury have released a damning report today (15th May 2009) entitled The Girdwood Gamble. The report publishes the results of the Jury’s monitoring of their indicators launched in October 2008 and puts forward constructive proposals on how to turn the £231m regeneration process into a social and economic stimulus for the communities surrounding the site.

Download a copy of The Girdwood Gamble and the press release

 Also see the 2 minute advert here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiDxljKsZH4

 


North Belfast Residents to Highlight Local Failures on the Global Stage

On 6th April 2009, PPR submitted their response to the UK's submission to the UN Committee on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights.  The report highlights the work of PPR's four groups and raises questions about the UK government's work to realise economic and social rights in North Belfast, Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom. Representatives from the 4 groups are visiting the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland this week to highlight the failure of government to realise the right to health, housing and play in their community.

Throughout the trip, they will be posting videos, interviews with other attendees, information about the process, and their own thoughts on their blog called “North Belfast Goes to the UN”.

Be sure to watch the trailer for their visit!  Visit the blog today at http://nbelfast.blogspot.com/ They will be posting updates each day throughout this week.

You can also download a copy of the report here.

 


Shannan Kincaid Wins Outstanding Achievement Award for Community Safety

On 24th March 2009, Shannan Kincaid was honored for her work as cShannan and Inezo-chair of the event, 'When Kids Decide: Realising the RIght to Play in the Lower Shankill', at the Belfast Community Safety Partnership's Young People's Awards. The event, held in February, allowed children and parents to highlight hazards in their community and to demand change on them from government in line with international human rights standards.

At the awards ceremony, Shannan received both the "Community Safety North Belfast Gold Award" as well as the overall, "Outstanding Achievement Award" for her work. To read Belfast City Council's press release, click here .  Or see the videos that showcased Shannan at the ceremony or that highlight the work of the group on the right to play.

 


PIPS-GSBF Rights Group Calls on Minister for Health to Improve New Complaints Procedure

The PIPS- Greater Shankill Bereaved Families Right Group has voiced their dismay about the Department of Health’s new complaints system, which was supposed to be released 18th March 2009.  They are deeply concerned that lessons have not been learned from the failures of the past and that standards have not been set for mental health service users to be meaningfully involved in the new system – especially during its implementation and monitoring stages. 

Katherine Vella, a member of the Group, explained: “While we are delighted the government has recognized the importance of user involvement by making it a standard in the new complaints system, the devil is in the details of how that standard is implemented locally by Health Trusts. 

“Our main concern is the lack of practical guidance and oversight for how meaningful participation of mental health service users will take place.  Currently, the only time the Department of Health has given any real detail is when they explain how to deal with ‘unreasonable, vexatious or abusive complainants’.  This is unacceptable and it doesn’t take advantage of the opportunities to change the failed patterns of the previous complaints system.”

Download a copy of the group's fact sheet on the new procedure.  A copy of the group's first progress report can be found here.

 
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