Blog by Martina McAuley, Research Officer, Equality Commission NI








Our latest survey has provided food for thought and some useful insights. We had the survey designed to capture a snapshot of the public’s awareness and understanding of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework and the role of the dedicated mechanism.
 
It also provides insights into the public’s attitudes to equality and human rights protections in Northern Ireland after Brexit. This is all very useful and valuable information that helps us to further inform our work going forward.
 
This year, following our work on race, we also included questions to gauge attitudes towards minority ethnic people, migrant workers and asylum seekers and refugees, the findings are interesting.
 

Impact of Brexit on social attitudes

We wanted to know if Brexit has changed social attitudes in Northern Ireland, particularly towards minority ethnic groups, migrant workers, and refugees and asylum seekers. Our survey tells us that almost half (48%) of respondents feel that attitudes toward minority ethnic people have become worse as a result of Brexit, while 46% say the same about migrant workers, and 53% believe attitudes toward refugees and asylum seekers have deteriorated.
 
This is of particular interest given the horrendous racist events that happened on our streets over the summer months. But furthermore, these figures are consistent with the 2023 results, Brexit’s impact on social attitudes remains a concern.
 

Awareness of rights under the Windsor Framework

Through the survey we also sought to explore awareness of, and concerns over, rights in this post-Brexit era.
 
The good news is that results show that awareness of rights under Article 2 of the Windsor Framework is growing. In 2024, 78% of respondents knew that equality and human rights protections are part of the UK Government’s commitments, compared to 70% in 2023 and 53% in 2022. This is a positive trend, showing that more people are becoming informed about their rights.

Similarly, awareness of the roles of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in safeguarding these rights is on the rise. In 2024, 64% of people were aware of our involvement, compared to just 34% in 2022. This means more people understand who to contact for advice and guidance in this regard. 

In addition, more people were aware that the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission work with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on the all-island dimension on rights and equality in this regard (42% of people in 2024 compared to only 21% in 2022). Over half thought that this role was important to them (58%).

A new question in 2024 asked whether people felt it was important for Northern Ireland to "keep pace" with any EU law changes that strengthen equality and human rights and just under two-thirds of respondents agreed (64%).
 

Public concern over rights post-Brexit

Whilst there is  growing awareness of rights, over half (55%) of the respondents remain concerned that their equality and human rights could be affected in the future due to Brexit. Almost half (47%) believe their rights have already been reduced since the UK left the EU. These figures have stayed consistent over the past few years, indicating that uncertainty around rights remains a significant concern for many people in Northern Ireland.

Additionally, three out of four people (74%) feel that the equality and human rights protections in the Windsor Framework are important to them.
 

Legal advice and assistance

One notable finding is the increase in awareness of the legal support available. In 2024, 66% of respondents were aware that the Equality Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission can provide legal advice and assistance to individuals who believe their rights under Article 2 of the Windsor Framework have been breached. This is a significant increase from 47% in 2022. 

It’s welcome to see that more people are now aware of the services available to help them protect their rights. We continue to encourage anyone who believes their rights have been breached to avail of these services and to contact us for free and confidential legal advice. 

Final thoughts

The survey results from 2024 offer a mixed bag. On the one hand, awareness of rights under the Windsor Framework is clearly improving, with more people understanding the protections in place and the role of  the Equality Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

However, concerns about the future of equality and human rights remain, and many feel that social attitudes, particularly toward some minority groups,  have been negatively affected by Brexit.

As Northern Ireland continues to adjust to life after Brexit, ensuring people are aware of their rights and that they have access to advice and guidance will be crucial. The growing awareness is a step in the right direction, but there’s still more work to be done to ensure that everyone feels their rights are protected and respected in this new post-Brexit era.


Protecting Rights After Brexit