Martin SnoddonDirector Northern Spring

From WarTo

Peace

•Journey of Political Prisoners in N.I.

•Peace Breaking

•Peace Making

•Peace Keeping

•Peace Building

Belfast Prison

Political Prisoners

•Speculation that there exists between 30,000 and 40,000 former political ex-prisoners in N. Ireland;

Long KeshPrison

Political Prisoners

•120,000 family members impacted upon by imprisonment;

H-BocksMaze Prison

Political Prisoners

•Population of N. Ireland in 2001 was 1,685,267.

•7.1% of that population had been impacted upon by imprisonment.

Political Lectures & Debates

FormalEducation

PrisonerReleases

• Prior to the negotiated agreement for the release of prisoners we had 29,500 prisoners already released having completed their sentences.

• In 1991 ex-prisoners started to formalise their support structures - 1994 ceasefires led to increased resources from E.U. for services.

• Roughly 500 were released over a 2 year period after the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

Governments Involved

•American Government Influence;

•Irish Government;

•British Government;

•European Government Intervention.

Political Ex-PrisonerNeeds for Reintegration

•Family Integration;

•Local Community Integration;

•Wider Society Integration.

ReintegrationPractical Issues

•Advice & Support;

•Housing;

•Skills Development;

•Employment;

•Psychological Support;

Legacy of Imprisonment In N.

Ireland• Research has identified:

• high levels of resilience (+)

• PTSD - over 50% (-)

• Depression (-)

• Drug & Alcohol abuse (-)

• Financial problems (-)

• significant psychological harm (-)

Legacy of Imprisonment

• ‘Military culture’ exists were few people talk about their experiences, they do not want to be:

• Blamed for the war;

• Do want to be stigmatised because of mental health problems;

• Feelings of shame and weakness;

• Level of trust with service providers.

Shared Experience of Reintegration Programmes

• S. Africa

• Nicaragua

• Balkans

• Gaza

• Haiti

• Somalia ?

Leadership

•Political leaders emerged from the ex-prisoner and ex-combatants population;

Political Leadershipfrom former combatant

Martin McGuinness

Leadership

•Community leaders emerged;

Ex-PrisonersDemonstrating Community

Leadership

Engagement inPeace Building

•The vast majority existing in local communities building peace through dialogue.

Republican & LoyalistPolitical Ex-Prisoners

Peace Building

Political Ex-prisonersInfluence on next

generation

Political Ex-prisoners

as Gang Members

HaitiReintegration

Port au PrinceCommunity Action

N. Ireland Community Leadership

Future Pacing

Importance ofReintegration

•Reintegration is CRITICAL.

•Leadership & Support Structures.

RecommendedSupport Structure• Service Director

• Research Officer

• Outreach Officer x 7

• Welfare Advice Officer x 2

• Psychotherapist x 2

• Administration Officer

• Training Officer

Partners in Peace

•Civil Society Organisations

•Social Justice Approach

Benefits

•An ongoing Peace Process;

•Transformation of how we experience each other;

•A gift to future generations.

From WarTo

Peace

•Journey of Political Prisoners in N.I.

•Peace Breaking

•Peace Making

•Peace Keeping

•Peace Building

Political Ex-prisoner

Identity

Beliefs

Values

Capabilities

Behaviour

Environment

Reintegrationis

Critical for Peace

DecommissionedPrison Camp