The former Beirut hostage, Mr Brian Keenan, is to help launch a consultation exercise on what should be contained in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. Mr Keenan and Mr Brice Dickson, head of the North's Human Rights Commission, are to attend events in Derry and Belfast today, urging public involvement in the initiative.
The proposed Bill of Rights comes under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. Over the coming months, the commission will seek opinions on how the Bill can "reflect the principle of mutual respect for the identity and ethos of both communities in Northern Ireland as well as the principle of parity of esteem".