In reaction to US President Joe Biden’s speech at the University of Ulster in Belfast today celebrating the Good Friday Agreement, Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International UK’s Northern Ireland Deputy Director, said:

“President Biden’s support for the Good Friday Agreement is welcome - protecting peace and preserving the Agreement are important messages delivered at a critical time.

“When the anniversary celebrations end, the UK government threats to the Agreement and the rights protections it guarantees will unfortunately remain unless the Prime Minister changes course on the Troubles Bill.

“The UK government must not forget the empty chairs left by those killed during the Troubles that President Biden referred to. The Prime Minister must follow through with his claim of commitment to the Agreement and drop the Troubles Bill which violates it."