Public Awareness Survey of equality and human rights protections in Northern Ireland after Brexit
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland commissioned a short survey, as part of its role with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of Protocol Article 2 and the role of the dedicated mechanism.
The aim of the survey was to capture a snapshot of public attitudes towards equality and human rights protections in Northern Ireland after Brexit.
LucidTalk undertook the survey on behalf of the Commission via an online opinion panel. The survey took place between 11 and 14 March 2022 and there were 1,532 responses. The responses were audited and weighted, and the results are representative of the Northern Ireland population.
Over half of all respondents were concerned that their equality and/or human rights would be affected in the future as a result of Brexit.
Almost three quarters of respondents felt that the UK Government's commitment to equality and human rights after Brexit was important to them.
The survey obtained responses to the following issues:
Concern that equality and/or human rights will be affected as a result of Brexit
How concerned are you that your equality and/or human rights will be affected in the future, as a result of Brexit?
Over half of all respondents (57%) were concerned that their equality and/or human rights will be affected in the future as a result of Brexit, while around one third said they were unconcerned (32%).
Perception of impact of Brexit on equality and human rights
Do you think that your equality, and/or human rights, have been increased, unchanged, or reduced as a result of Brexit?
Just over two-fifths of respondents (43%) felt that their rights had been unaffected.
A similar proportion (42%) felt that their rights had been reduced because of Brexit.
A small minority (7%) felt that their rights had been increased.
Awareness of equality and human rights protections under the Protocol
How aware were you that equality and human rights protections are part of the UK Government’s commitments under the Protocol?
Under Article 2(1) of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol (‘the Protocol’), the UK Government committed to ensuring that certain equality and human rights in Northern Ireland will not be reduced as a result of Brexit.
Just over half (53%) of the respondents to the survey were aware that the UK Government’s commitments under the Protocol included equality and human rights protections.
Importance of this commitment
How important is this commitment to you?
Nearly three quarters (72%) of respondents felt that the UK Government’s commitment to ensuring that certain equality and human rights in Northern Ireland will not be reduced as a result of Brexit was important or very important to them, 12% of respondents felt this was unimportant to them and 16% said they did not know if it was important to them.