The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission have published a new joint report on the impact of Brexit on the divergence of rights and best practice on the island of Ireland.

The 48-page report contains a number of recommendations, including that it is “essential that NI equality and human rights law keeps pace with changes to equality and human rights law in Ireland, including rights introduced in Ireland as a result of EU laws”.

A launch event yesterday saw key findings from the research presented by co-author Dr Eleni Frantziou, assistant professor in public law and human rights at the University of Durham, along with responses from Professor Christopher McCrudden of Queen’s University Belfast, Annmarie O’Kane from the Centre for Cross Border Studies and David Fennelly from legal rights group FLAC.

Sinéad Gibney, chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, said: “In today’s challenging post-Brexit world, the work of our three commissions in securing equality and human rights for everyone across our island is more important than ever. We continue to work together to address any divergence on the island of Ireland.

“Equality and human rights protections are the basic building blocks for a peaceful and prosperous society on our shared island.

“That’s why we’re recommending that the Irish government, the Northern Ireland Executive, and UK government work to enhance and harmonise equality and human rights protections on the island, aligned to their respective remits, and make a clear commitment to working towards ensuring north-south equivalence.”

Alyson Kilpatrick, chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, said: “The protection of human rights is central to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

“The UK government committed to the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights, which was achieved through the Human Rights Act 1998. The Agreement is clear that compliance with the ECHR is an important ‘safeguard’ to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

“A bill of rights for Northern Ireland remains an outstanding commitment of the Agreement and in the context of wider threats to human rights could provide further reassurance. Article 2 of the Windsor Framework is an important protection, but it is no substitute for a comprehensive human rights framework.”

Geraldine McGahey, chief commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, said: “Equality is at the heart of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and EU laws have contributed significantly to enhancing these rights.

“Twenty-five years on from that Agreement, there are still significant gaps in protection that need to be addressed, and post Brexit, there is a risk that the gaps will widen further.

“The UK government must uphold its commitments on equality and human rights in Northern Ireland. Our equality laws must be strengthened, in line with international best practice.”

The three commissions will now seek to meet with government officials to highlight their joint research findings and recommendations to ensure that equality and human rights continue to be protected and strengthened in Northern Ireland.