Who We Are

Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) support disadvantaged groups to assert their right to participate in social and economic decisions which affect their lives. PPR currently works on issues including mental health, adequate housing, regeneration and the right to play with groups across the island of Ireland.

PPR enables groups to challenge and change current government decision making practices which exclude them, and which lead to poor service delivery, entrenched inequalities and ineffective use of public money.

To do this, PPR supports affected groups to use a Human Rights Based Approach to the economic and social issues that directly impact their lives.

PPR was founded in 2001 and is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

PPR Human Rights Based Approach

The PPR Human Rights Based Approach involves the use of a range of tools including human rights standards, action research, policy work, media, campaigning, strategy, negotiating and alliance building.

The groups work to challenge violations of their economic and social rights. They have achieved real local change, such as the removal of families inappropriately housed in high rise blocks of flats, and the adoption of a new appointment system for all mental health patients in Northern Ireland, the Card before You Leave. 

However the groups ultimately aim to change ineffective government decision making practices that exclude disadvantaged groups, and so fail to address the social deprivation and inequalities they live with.  By challenging decision-making processes, as well as outcomes, they aim to achieve lasting and sustainable change that can benefit other groups.

Globally, studies are showing that inequality and social deprivation can be effectively addressed through measures to include the vulnerable, rather than compensating the excluded.  PPR’s work is showing that participation leads to a more effective use of public money, improved service delivery and the fulfillment of international human rights standards.

“Participation and the active involvement in the determination of one’s own destiny is the essence of human dignity.”
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN Commissioner for Human Rights

If you are interested in finding out more about PPR’s work please contact info@pprproject.org