It came into existence on 1 March 1999, having been created by the Parliament of the United Kingdom through section 68 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, in compliance with a commitment made by the UK Government in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement of 10 April 1998.

[4] In relation to its mandate to advise on a Bill of Rights, the Commission conducted a very extensive public consultation exercise during Dickson's term as Chief Commissioner.

From December 2009 to 31 March 2010 the Northern Ireland Office conducted a public consultation on its response to the commission's recommendations, most of which were firmly rejected by the government.

It shared that role with the other two NHRIs in the UK – the EHRC and SHRC – and a fourth body, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI).

Since the 2011 restructuring, which resulted in the departure of staff with disability expertise, the NIHRC has ceased work on the CRPD and the ECNI has in effect become the sole element of the independent mechanism in Northern Ireland.

During Brice Dickson's tenure as chief commissioner, the NIHRC became involved in the Holy Cross dispute in which loyalists blockaded a girls' Primary School in Ardoyne, Belfast in 2001 and 2002.

Dickson disagreed with a decision by the NIHRC's casework committee to support a parent's legal challenge to the policing of the dispute, and wrote in those terms to the then Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

[11] In June 2011 it was reported that the NIHRC had, in the course of its restructuring, engaged the services of a personnel consultant who had some years previously been struck off the nursing register for cruelty towards elderly patients.

[12] The restructuring resulted in a number of Industrial Tribunal (employment court) cases against the commission, which were settled from public funds with clauses binding the claimants to confidentiality.