The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission brings you a new series of our Shared Goals podcast shining the spotlight on current human rights issues here in Northern Ireland. Human rights touch on every aspect of life. From health, to housing, to child protection, climate change, gender equality, and rights of persons with disabilities amongst many others. In this series staff from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission shall be interviewing diverse voices including academics, practitioners, and activists who are championing human rights, and to highlight current human rights issues.
On the International Day of Older Persons, the NorthernIreland Human Rights Commission is delighted to release a new episode of its ‘Shared Goals’ podcast series with guest Zvezdan Pirtošek, the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.
Sitting down with Commission staff, the Independent Expert explores a wide range of human rights issues affecting older persons. Focusing on ageism, the Independent Expert highlights the far-reaching consequences of discrimination in healthcare, housing, employment and the effects these can have on older persons autonomy.
The wide-ranging discussion also touches upon loneliness,digital exclusion, poverty, social protection and violence against older persons. We explore how a human rights-based approach can help address these barriers and enable older persons to claim and exercise their rights.
The Independent Expert outlines the opportunities that alegally binding international instrument on the human rights of older persons could offer, including making rights more explicit, strengthening older persons as rights holders and enhancing accountability.
To learn more about this topic, please see our statementhere.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this programare those of the speakers and/or their organisations and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
17 Oct 2025
Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
Ending poverty is not only a matter of income, but it also involves dignity, justice, and human rights. In this episode, released in the framework of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 Oct), NIHRC staff had the opportunity to talk with Professor Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights (https://www.srpoverty.org/). During this conversation, we discussed the different definitions of poverty and how it engages human rights.
The wide-ranging discussion touches on what a human rights-based approach to tackling poverty looks like; examines the effectiveness of anti-poverty strategies; explores the criminalisation of homelessness and how poverty interacts with the criminal justice system; and highlights the need to include people with lived experience of poverty in designing anti-poverty policies and strategies.
Join us for an interesting conversation that makes us rethink the way we understand poverty and learn more about effective strategies to tackle this global issue.
NIHRC’s work on anti-poverty strategy:
The NIHRC submitted its response to the Department for Communities’ consultation on the Anti-Poverty Strategy 2025–2035, highlighting the importance of embedding a human rights-based approach to tackling poverty in Northern Ireland. Find out more here (https://nihrc.org/publication/detail/consultation-response-submission-to-the-department-for-communities-consultation-on-the-anti-poverty-strategy-2025-2035).
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and/or their organisations and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
17 Sept 2025
Misinformation and Disinformation
Misinformation and disinformation is everywhere - from our news feeds to our social media timelines - but what does it really mean for our daily lives and our rights? In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Orna Young from FactCheckNI to discuss today's complex landscape of misinformation and disinformation, how these shape public opinion through the news and media and why it's a challenge for human rights worldwide.
The wide-ranging discussion touches on the work of FactCheckNI (https://factcheckni.org/); analyses misinformation in the news and social media; discusses the impact of misinformation and disinformation on human rights; and shares how people can be vigilant about identifying it and thinking critically in their day-to-day lives.
Join us for an insightful conversation that covers the challenges our human rights face in the digital age and that will make you rethink the way you scroll, share and think online.
NIHRC’s work on misinformation and disinformation:
The NIHRC published a Briefing Paper: Racial and Ethnic Minority Rights and Online Misinformation and Disinformation. Find out more and read the Briefing Paper here (https://nihrc.org/publication/detail/nihrc-briefing-paper-racial-and-ethnic-minority-rights-and-online-misinformation-and-disinformation).
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and/or their organisations and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
11 Aug 2025
Climate change and young people
In this International Youth Day episode of the Shared Goals podcast, we speak with Sarah and Ronan, members of the NICCY Youth Panel, about their inspiring work to combat climate change.
From what first motivated them to become activists, to how their involvement with NICCY has empowered them to make a difference, Sarah and Ronan talk about the human rights impacts of climate change, the importance of education, and how they integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into their work.
They also highlight practical ways young people can get involved – whether it's taking action in local communities and schools or engaging with wider organisations and advocacy networks.
Tune in for an honest, hopeful, and energising conversation about youth leadership, climate justice, and how everyone has a role to play in building a better future!
Find out more about the NICCY Youth Panel through the following link. (https://www.niccy.org/children-and-young-people/youth-panel/ )
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and/or their organisations and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
7 Mar 2025
Gender budgeting
This opening episode of the second season of our Shared Goals podcast coincides with International Women’s Day and features an interview with Aoife Mallon, Research and Engagement Associate at the University of Ulster.
Focusing on the topic of gender budgeting, Aoife explains the concept including how it is being used in different countries and how it could be utilised in a Northern Irish context to promote gender equality. The podcast explores the challenges and advantages of using this approach to organise public finances, and how it could benefit human rights to adopt it in Northern Ireland.
Aoife addresses how gender budgeting fits into a human rights framework, and tackles misconceptions and myths around the concept, highlighting how it can address structural inequalities and ultimately benefit all in society.
Find out more about gender budgeting and the work of the ARK project at Ulster University: Gender Budgeting | ARK - Access Research Knowledge (https://www.ark.ac.uk/ARK/projects/Gender_Budgeting/)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and/or their organisations and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
31 Jan 2024
Disability and human rights
James Martin MBE and Mencap talk disability and human rights on our Shared Goals podcast.
This episode features an interview with Mencap NI ambassador, award-winning actor and barista James Martin MBE alongside Mencap NI’s Senior Marketing, Communications and Influencing Lead, Karen Gilgunn.
It explores a wide range of topics around the theme of disability and human rights, including the power of sports, drama and music to help persons with disabilities fulfil their right to participate fully in society.
James highlights his own journey with Mencap from young service user to award-winning actor and how he is now helping others in his role as an ambassador, while Karen outlines the steps being taken to make our communities more inclusive and concerns about the
impact of funding cuts.
24 Nov 2023
Gender-based violence and women’s rights in NI
This episode of Shared Goals is released to mark the UN
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The episode features an interview with Marie Brown, CEO of Foyle Women’s Aid and the Foyle Family Justice Centre, who has successfully led key developments and a wide range of projects supporting women, children and young people who are victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse across the Foyle area.
*Trigger warning*
During the interview Ms Brown discusses the causes of
violence against women, the impact of recent measures designed to tackle violence against women, and the support available for women and their families
who have experienced abuse.
If you have been affected by issues discussed on this
episode please see a list of organisations below for support and information.
Women’s Aid Federation - Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland (womensaidni.org) (https://www.womensaidni.org/)
Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline (https://nexusni.org/helpline/#:~:text=DSA%20Helpline-,DSA%20Helpline,Helpline%20on%200808%20802%201414.)
HereNI - HERe NI - A place for Lesbian and Bisexual Women (https://hereni.org/)
Men’s Advisory Project NI - MAPNI - Men's Advisory Project - Male Victims of Domestic Abuse (https://mapni.co.uk/)
Nexus NI - Home - Nexus NI (https://nexusni.org/)
Rainbow - Home - rainbow (rainbow-project.org) (https://www.rainbow-project.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiAjfyqBhAsEiwA-UdzJAna6QkkI2otR0wwb8Ph3Xv7hldqiC8aSXraPtGRM18qEcVTXGS6tRoCwagQAvD_BwE)
17 Oct 2023
Poverty and human rights
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has launched the third episode in its new podcast series ‘Shared Goals.’ This episode explores the topic of poverty and human rights and marks International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Staff from the Commission are joined in discussion by Jonny Currie, NI Network Lead at the Trussell Trust.
19 Sept 2023
Climate change and human rights
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has launched the second episode of its new podcast series ‘Shared Goals’. This episode explores the topic of climate change and human rights and features an interview with Dr Ian Fry, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.
10 Aug 2023
Equal protection from physical punishment for children in Northern Ireland
Today we release our first episode on International Youth Day – 12 August 2023 and our topic is the issue of equal protection from physical punishment for children in Northern Ireland. Michael Boyd, Hannah Russell and Conor Boyle from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission interview Caroline Cunningham, Acting Policy and Public Affairs Manager at NSPCC Northern Ireland.
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4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100
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40
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0
YouTube
82
Engagement
32
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