The ECHR and the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement

August 31, 2025

Parliamentarians and other commentators routinely assert that UK withdrawal from the ECHR would somehow breach – or undermine – the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.  This report shows that the Belfast Agreement does not require either the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland to remain a party to the ECHR.  Each state has the same right under Article 58 of the ECHR to withdraw from the Convention, a right under international law that is not qualified in any way by the Belfast Agreement.  UK withdrawal from the ECHR would not constitute a breach of the Belfast Agreement.

The launch of this report was covered by:

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Authors

Dr Conor Casey

Senior Fellow, Judicial Power Project

Richard Ekins KC (Hon)

Head of the Judicial Power Project

Sir Stephen Laws KCB, KC (Hon)

Senior Fellow, Judicial Power Project


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