Women’s Policy Group NI Welcomes Burial Protection Bill to Ensure Dignity in Death

27 October 2025 – The WRDA led Women’s Policy Group NI (WPG NI) has issued a consultation response for the proposed Private Cemetery Status (Burial Protection) Bill, recognising it as a vital step toward ensuring dignity and respect for those laid to rest in private burial grounds across Northern Ireland.

WPG NI emphasised the importance of the Bill in addressing long-standing issues around the regulation, maintenance, and integrity of private burial sites. The group noted that many individuals buried in such grounds—particularly those affected by historical injustices such as Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries, and Workhouses—have not received the respect they deserve, both in life and in death.

The WPG NI response highlights the need for standardised regulations across all burial grounds, regardless of denomination or ownership. While churches and other bodies often maintain records, inconsistencies in practices can lead to gaps in accountability and preservation.

The group also expressed strong agreement that the Bill represents a responsible use of public funds, noting that enforcement costs would be minimal compared to the societal value of protecting burial sites.

WPG NI further endorsed the approach taken by Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece in her 2022–23 Private Burial Grounds and Cemeteries Bill in the House of Lords, suggesting it as a model for Northern Ireland.

The Women’s Policy Group NI is a coalition of policy experts and practitioners led by the Women’s Resource and Development Agency. The WPG NI advocates for gender equality through an intersectional feminist lens. Its members include representatives from trade unions, grassroots women’s organisations, LGBTQ+ groups, migrant support services, and human rights organisations.

For further information, please contact:
Elaine Crory – Women’s Sector Lobbyist, WRDA – elaine.crory@wrda.net
Meghan Hoyt – Policy Assistant, WRDA – meghan.hoyt@wrda.net