Martin O’Brien
@mobrienbelfast.bsky.social
Human rights activist and former philanthropoid. Director of @SCI-Belfast.bsky.social. Views are my own.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Last week we welcomed 28 Community and Youth Work students from Maynooth University. SCI's Director, Martin O'Brien, was delighted to meet them and talk about working for social change and the current situation in Belfast.
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Last week we welcomed 28 Community and Youth Work students from Maynooth University. SCI's Director, Martin O'Brien, was delighted to meet them and talk about working for social change and the current situation in Belfast.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
🤝 Delighted to see our partners @sci-belfast.bsky.social using findings from our work on the World Values Survey to engage community leaders in Northern Ireland in conversations on attitudes, values and how to tackle division in the country
➡️ www.socialchangeinitiative.com/values-lesso...
➡️ www.socialchangeinitiative.com/values-lesso...
October 20, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🤝 Delighted to see our partners @sci-belfast.bsky.social using findings from our work on the World Values Survey to engage community leaders in Northern Ireland in conversations on attitudes, values and how to tackle division in the country
➡️ www.socialchangeinitiative.com/values-lesso...
➡️ www.socialchangeinitiative.com/values-lesso...
Maynooth looking pretty special this week. Some stunning trees.
November 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Maynooth looking pretty special this week. Some stunning trees.
Great to be back again in South Africa to mark 10 years of the Constitutionalism Fund an initiative of @atlantic, @FordFoundation & @OpenSociety. $29m of grant awards made to advance the realisation of the rights provided for in the South African Constitution
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Great to be back again in South Africa to mark 10 years of the Constitutionalism Fund an initiative of @atlantic, @FordFoundation & @OpenSociety. $29m of grant awards made to advance the realisation of the rights provided for in the South African Constitution
Great to see former @sci-belfast.bsky.social intern Allison Tate being included among this prestigious group of young leaders.
🚀 Meet the 4th class of Obama-Chesky Voyagers! 100 young leaders tackling big issues. Launched by @barackobama.bsky.social, Mrs. Obama, and Airbnb Co-Founder and CEO Brian Chesky, this scholarship fuels the next generation of public service leaders. 🌍 www.obama.org/programs/voy...
September 27, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Great to see former @sci-belfast.bsky.social intern Allison Tate being included among this prestigious group of young leaders.
Powerful speech from Mary Robinson on the “unconscionable” situation in Gaza. youtu.be/DIvzIEP-OUg
Former Irish President Delivers Keynote Address at UN Conference on Israel-Palestine | AQ1G
YouTube video by DRM News
youtu.be
July 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Powerful speech from Mary Robinson on the “unconscionable” situation in Gaza. youtu.be/DIvzIEP-OUg
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Irish lawyer, Michael Farrell, quits Council of Europe rights body over silence on Gaza | Irish Legal News
www.irishlegal.com/articles/iri...
www.irishlegal.com/articles/iri...
Irish lawyer quits European rights body over silence on Gaza
Ireland's long-standing representative on a Council of Europe human rights body has resigned over its failure to speak out on Gaza. Human rights lawyer Michael Farrell has been a member of the Europea...
www.irishlegal.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Irish lawyer, Michael Farrell, quits Council of Europe rights body over silence on Gaza | Irish Legal News
www.irishlegal.com/articles/iri...
www.irishlegal.com/articles/iri...
Important job opportunity here to lead one of Ireland’s most effective change making organisations. Well worth a look.
CEO Recruitment: Trócaire are inviting applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer.
The CEO of Trócaire leads the organisation, ensuring excellence in all aspects of the organisation’s work.
For further information, and to apply, please visit: apply.workable.com/trocaire/j/7...
The CEO of Trócaire leads the organisation, ensuring excellence in all aspects of the organisation’s work.
For further information, and to apply, please visit: apply.workable.com/trocaire/j/7...
July 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Important job opportunity here to lead one of Ireland’s most effective change making organisations. Well worth a look.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Hanny was in Belfast for an SCI Board meeting, and we’re delighted he made time to share his insights and expertise on the current situation in Syria with some of our local network of changemakers.
June 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Hanny was in Belfast for an SCI Board meeting, and we’re delighted he made time to share his insights and expertise on the current situation in Syria with some of our local network of changemakers.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
This morning, we welcomed guests for a briefing on the situation in Syria with Hanny Megally, member of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria and SCI Board member.
June 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
This morning, we welcomed guests for a briefing on the situation in Syria with Hanny Megally, member of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria and SCI Board member.
Important piece here. Worth a read.
Today, as the process for appointing a new Garda Commissioner is under way, I have an opinion piece in The Irish Times about the controversy-crisis cycle in policing, ‘copaganda’ and the need for vigilance on policing culture…
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Donncha O'Connell: As the Evan Fitzgerald case shows, gardaí cannot operate on a ‘trust us’ basis
Next Garda commissioner will start with unenviable list of controversies and must ensure these do not turn into crises
www.irishtimes.com
June 18, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Important piece here. Worth a read.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Council of Europe rejects political pressure from nine states on European Court of Human Rights
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Council of Europe rejects political pressure on ECHR in Meloni reply
Council of Europe Secretary Alain Berset defends the independence of the European Court of Human Rights, emphasizing the importance of preserving its impartiality amid ongoing debates on migration. #E...
www.euronews.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Council of Europe rejects political pressure from nine states on European Court of Human Rights
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Might be worth noting that this recommendation to place an exceptional non-jury court on a permanent footing was made by four members of a six-member review group with two members dissenting. Minority report available here: oasareview.ie/wp-content/upl…
May 25, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Might be worth noting that this recommendation to place an exceptional non-jury court on a permanent footing was made by four members of a six-member review group with two members dissenting. Minority report available here: oasareview.ie/wp-content/upl…
Powerful letter. Long past time for the government to act.
More than 350 lawyers and legal academics say Irish Government not complying with international law obligations over Palestine crisis – The Irish Times
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
More than 350 lawyers and academics say Government not complying with international law obligations over Palestine crisis
Ireland obliged to take steps to prevent EU rendering assistance to Israel’s ‘unlawful acts’
www.irishtimes.com
May 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Powerful letter. Long past time for the government to act.
Delighted to see this really important work by Dermot Devlin @mywayaccess.bsky.social supported by @BrianPelan from @VIEWdigital. Hope it leads to some much needed change.
Congratulations to Dermot Devlin @mywayaccess.bsky.social on the launch of his report on the severe lack of wheelchair-accessible taxis in Northern Ireland. 👏
Read the full report👉 viewdigital.org/report-into-...
Read the full report👉 viewdigital.org/report-into-...
May 15, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Delighted to see this really important work by Dermot Devlin @mywayaccess.bsky.social supported by @BrianPelan from @VIEWdigital. Hope it leads to some much needed change.
Great news. So well deserved.
I am absolutely delighted to be one of the UCD Earth Institute’s in-house journalists this year, with great company too.
Really looking forward to getting stuck in to see what we can achieve together ☺️
www.ucd.ie/earth/news-o...
Really looking forward to getting stuck in to see what we can achieve together ☺️
www.ucd.ie/earth/news-o...
08 April Journalists announcement
www.ucd.ie
April 9, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Great news. So well deserved.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Communities in Northern Ireland are becoming more diverse, with residents bringing new cultures and lived experiences that go beyond the traditional. At SCI, we see this as an exciting opportunity to build new, inclusive forms of activism. (1/3)
April 2, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Communities in Northern Ireland are becoming more diverse, with residents bringing new cultures and lived experiences that go beyond the traditional. At SCI, we see this as an exciting opportunity to build new, inclusive forms of activism. (1/3)
Important new report. Well worth a read.
1) NEW REPORT 🚨
'Reform of Stormont: Options for Discussion' was published by the @conunitucl.bsky.social today! Co-authored by @alanrenwick.bsky.social, @alanwhysall.bsky.social, and myself.
It is free to read here: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution...
'Reform of Stormont: Options for Discussion' was published by the @conunitucl.bsky.social today! Co-authored by @alanrenwick.bsky.social, @alanwhysall.bsky.social, and myself.
It is free to read here: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution...
Reform of Stormont
A project exploring possible reforms to Northern Ireland's governing institutions, as an aid to further discussion.
www.ucl.ac.uk
March 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Important new report. Well worth a read.
Stunning sky tonight in #MalinHead. Tory Island in the distance.
March 16, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Stunning sky tonight in #MalinHead. Tory Island in the distance.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Great interview from Liam Herrick Chief Commissioner of @ihrec.bsky.social on Ireland's legal obligations to asylum seekers.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
IHREC on how the state is treating migrants
Niall Collins, Minister of State at the Department of Justice; Claire Kerrane, Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon–Galway; Peadar Tóibín, Aontú leader; Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Right...
www.rte.ie
February 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Great interview from Liam Herrick Chief Commissioner of @ihrec.bsky.social on Ireland's legal obligations to asylum seekers.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
In December 2024, @deepaiyer.bsky.social and @bulldogshadow.bsky.social explored the impact of the US election on democracy and human rights worldwide in an online conversation hosted by SCI.
This takeaway is just one of many. Read more 👉 www.socialchangeinitiative.com/cultivating-...
This takeaway is just one of many. Read more 👉 www.socialchangeinitiative.com/cultivating-...
February 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
In December 2024, @deepaiyer.bsky.social and @bulldogshadow.bsky.social explored the impact of the US election on democracy and human rights worldwide in an online conversation hosted by SCI.
This takeaway is just one of many. Read more 👉 www.socialchangeinitiative.com/cultivating-...
This takeaway is just one of many. Read more 👉 www.socialchangeinitiative.com/cultivating-...
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Our Participatory Journalism Fellowship supports independent storytellers who are highlighting underrepresented voices and shedding light on overlooked issues. They explore a range of social, economic, and political topics, offering diverse perspectives on key challenges.
February 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Our Participatory Journalism Fellowship supports independent storytellers who are highlighting underrepresented voices and shedding light on overlooked issues. They explore a range of social, economic, and political topics, offering diverse perspectives on key challenges.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
Today, we’re hosting our Participatory Journalism fellows for a day of sharing, learning, and collaboration. They will be able to present their work, exchange ideas, and support each other in shaping their stories.
February 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Today, we’re hosting our Participatory Journalism fellows for a day of sharing, learning, and collaboration. They will be able to present their work, exchange ideas, and support each other in shaping their stories.
Reposted by Martin O’Brien
To learn more about our journalism fellows and their projects, visit 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/team.
@brianone.bsky.social @shaunacorr.bsky.social @mobrienbelfast.bsky.social
@brianone.bsky.social @shaunacorr.bsky.social @mobrienbelfast.bsky.social
Our Team | Social Change Initiative
socialchangeinitiative.com
February 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
To learn more about our journalism fellows and their projects, visit 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/team.
@brianone.bsky.social @shaunacorr.bsky.social @mobrienbelfast.bsky.social
@brianone.bsky.social @shaunacorr.bsky.social @mobrienbelfast.bsky.social