AMNESTY International has made a submission to the United Nations (UN) stating that the British government’s Troubles amnesty proposals are “an utter betrayal” of victims.
The group has included video testimony by some of those who could be affected.
The British Government’s plan to end all investigations, inquests and civil actions has been denounced by all of the North’s political parties.
It will mean no just for many families across Derry who lost loved ones at the hands of British soldiers will not get justice.
Last month, UN human rights experts also expressed serious concerns about the British Government’s legacy amnesty plans.
Amnesty International has now followed up with the UN Human Rights Council.
“We call on the UN Human Rights Council to challenge the government’s plans to shield perpetrators and permanently deny justice to all victims,” said Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s NI campaigns manager.
“This not only breaches the UK’s international and domestic human rights obligations, but unduly interferes in our justice system and undermines the rule of law.”
A spokesman for the British Government said its sympathies were with Troubles’ victims and their families but the current system was “not working well for anybody”.
“It is delivering neither justice nor information to the vast majority of families,” he said.
“Obtaining information, through thorough and robust investigations, is the cornerstone of the government’s proposals.”
He said the government “would consider its next steps carefully”.
The move is seen as the government’s way of preventing prosecutions of former soldiers, which stems from a manifesto pledge it made two years ago.
Veterans who served in North of Ireland support the proposals.
The government has stated it wants to bring forward legislation later in the autumn.
If passed, it would shift the focus on dealing with killings prior to 1998 to providing information for victims’ families.
One of those who backs Amnesty’s intervention is Eugene Oliver, whose father Tom was murdered by the IRA in 1991.
“Recent developments in the investigation into my father’s murder bring us closer than ever to finding out the full truth of what happened and having those responsible held accountable,” said Mr Oliver.
“If the government’s proposals become law, this investigation will end and we’ll be condemned to a lifetime of never knowing.”
Tags: