Martin O'Brien

Martin O'Brien is the Director of the Reconciliation & Human Rights Programme at The Atlantic Philanthropies. This grantmaking programme works actively to bring about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa and the United States by promoting peace-building and access to human rights.

Prior to joining Atlantic in 2004, Mr. 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. It was during Mr. 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.

Mr. 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. Mr. O’Brien has brought concerns about the abuse of human rights in Northern Ireland to international audiences, including the United Nations.

Mr. 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.

He 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.

The recipient of numerous honours, Mr. O’Brien was one of four individuals who received the Reebok Human Rights Award in 1992 in recognition of his outstanding 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.