Shailesh Vara appoints Justin Kouame to the NIHRC

Justin Kouame has been appointed to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, according to the announcement made by the Right Honorable Shailesh Vara MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Beginning on September 1st, 2022, Mr. Kouame will begin his new position.

Mr. Kouame formerly served as the chair of the Northern Ireland Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers and as a member of both the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities and the Northern Ireland Race Equality Sub-Group.

Background
The Northern Ireland Act of 1998, a component of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, established the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (the “NIHRC”).

The Northern Ireland Office sponsors the NIHRC, which was founded in 1999 and functions as an executive non-departmental public organisation.

It acts in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 48/134 (the “Paris Principles”) on National Human Rights Institutions, and its authority and responsibilities are outlined in law.
The NIHRC’s duties include monitoring the sufficiency and efficacy of Northern Ireland’s laws and practises pertaining to the protection of human rights and raising knowledge of the significance of those rights.

You may get more details on the Commission’s work here.
Conditions of employment
The three-year, part-time tenure of this position ends on August 31, 2025.
£7,500 is the fixed annual salary for the post.
The job does not offer a pension.

Political Engagement
Every appointment is made based on merit and in accordance with the law. The selecting process is not influenced by politics.

However, it is necessary for the political activities of appointees in specific categories to be made public, as per the original Nolan recommendations.

Mr. Kouame has stated that he hasn’t participated in politics for the past five years.

Regulation

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is subject to appointment regulation by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).
Statutory Conditions

In accordance with the Northern Ireland Act of 1998, the Secretary of State appoints members to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.