Martin O'Brien (humanitarian)

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Martin O’Brien (born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in October 1964), husband and father of two, is a philanthropist and human rights activist noted for his work in securing the protection of Human Rights in Northern Ireland.

As of 2004 O’Brien is the Director of the Reconciliation & Human Rights Programme at Atlantic Philanthropies, a grant making programme which works to bring about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people in NI, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa and the United States by promoting peace-building and access to human rights.^[1]

Prior to 2004, O’Brien worked for 17 years co-ordinating the work of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), an organisation dedicated to securing the highest standards in the administration of justice in Northern Ireland. As executive director of CAJ, O'Brien played a key role in drafting the strong human rights provisions in the Good Friday Peace Agreement, signed in 1998 by all parties, that set forth a timetable and a structure to end sectarianism and created a new power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. CAJ is the only non-governmental organization actively engaged in monitoring compliance with the accords. O'Brien is a pacifist, and for him, the commitment to peace requires an action agenda and a deep understanding of every point of view. It was during O’Brien’s tenure in 1998 that CAJ was awarded the prestigious Council of Europe Human Rights Prize in recognition of its contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland.^[2][3]

O’Brien has written, spoken and publicly campaigned on a wide range of civil-liberties issues. He has been centrally involved in the campaign to secure a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and active in securing strong human-rights protections in the historic Good Friday Peace Agreement. O’Brien has brought concerns about the abuse of human rights in NI to international audiences, including the United Nations.^[4]

O’Brien received his degree in Sociology and Social Administration from Queen's University Belfast in 1987. In 1996, he was awarded a first class Master's degree in human rights law. In May 1999, Notre Dame College presented him with an honorary Doctorate in recognition of his work to promote justice and peace in Northern Ireland.^[5]

O'Brien is the cofounder of several organisations, including Youth for Peace; the Irish Network for Nonviolent Action Training and Education (INNATE); and Kilcranny House, a rural education centre committed to healing the divisions which exist in Northern Ireland.

O’Brien was one of four individuals who received the Reebok Human Rights Award in 1992 in recognition of his contribution to the protection of human rights. His work has also been honoured by Human Rights Watch, which selected him as one of 12 international human rights monitors for 1992.^[6]

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