PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
SECTARIANISM18 September 2012
Janette McNulty Vice Chair, PEACE III Partnership
Debbie McKinney PEACE III Project Officer
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
CONTENT
North Down, Ards and Down PEACE III Cluster
Sectarianism in North Down, Ards and Down
Issues influencing Sectarianism
Approaches to tackle Sectarianism
Achievements in addressing Sectarianism
Difficulties in addressing Sectarianism
Sectarianism is ….
What we would do differently
Summary
Q&A
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN PEACE III CLUSTER
North Down
Ards
Down
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
£2.6m of funding support to deliver local projects that build positive relations across the area
Religious breakdown of cluster: 66% Protestant 29.04% Catholic 4.96% Other
Each area is largely single identity: Down 62% Catholic Ards 82% Protestant North Down 78% Protestant
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN PEACE III CLUSTER
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
SECTARIANISM IN NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN
No Peace Walls
No Interfaces
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
SECTARIANISM IN NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN
“Our two communities live side by side in harmony”
“Yea – we’re sectarian and proud of it”
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
SECTARIANISM IN NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN
88% believe sectarianism in the cluster
Division
Prejudice
Denial
Hatred
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
SECTARIANISM IN NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN
How Sectarianism manifests
Flags, emblems and murals Community Unrest Violence Intimidation / Threats Isolation Divided Living Apathy Verbal abuse Banter / Craic
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
ISSUES INFLUENCING SECTARIANISM
1. Lack of cultural awareness
2. Lack of cross community contact
3. Visible manifestations of the conflict
4. Intra community conflict
5. Cultural celebrations
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
APPROACHES TO ADDRESS SECTARIANISM
Awareness raising
Capacity building
Cross community interaction
Removal of physical manifestations
Conflict Mediation Support
Community events / celebrations
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
APPROACHES TO ADDRESS SECTARIANISM
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Addressing Conflict
Building Positive Relations
Developing Leadership
Partnership Working
Sharing Communities, Sharing Resources
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
APPROACH - ADDRESSING CONFLICT
Address the physical legacy of the troubles including flags, emblems, murals and memorials
Support women and their families addressthe legacy of the conflict
Encourage good practice in relation to bonfire management
Provide conflict mediation support
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
APPROACH - BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONS
Promote shared and integrated communities within the cluster to address divided living through community animation programmes
Build capacity of single identity communities to address local issues arising from sectarianism and racism
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
APPROACH - DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP
Investing in young people and prepare them for a future that embraces diversity and promotes acceptance
Promoting and facilitating leadership
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
APPROACH - PARTNERSHIP WORKING
Building cross border and cross community linkages
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
APPROACH - SHARING COMMUNITIES, SHARING RESOURCES
Addressing racism across the cluster
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
ACHIEVEMENTS IN ADDRESSING SECTARIANISM
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
ACHIEVEMENTS IN ADDRESSING SECTARIANISM
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
ACHIEVEMENTS IN ADDRESSING SECTARIANISM
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
DIFFICULTIES IN ADDRESSING - SECTARIANISM
Social / economic situation
Political context
Community Tensions
Tackling a belief system that is deep in our society
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
SECTARIANISM IS…
Attitudes, actions, beliefs and structures
Personal, communal and institutional levels
Typically involves a negative mixing of religion and politics
Distorted expression of belonging, identity and the freedom of expression of difference
Expressed in destructive patterns of relating.
From Joseph Leichty, Irish School of Ecumenics
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
WHAT WE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY - SECTARIANISM
Multi faceted approach
Education
Political Leadership
Community Development
Initiatives with young people
Family focus
Concerted action by everyone
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
SUMMARISE
All peace building activities matter and make a difference in addressing sectarianism
Challenge attitudes and perceptions
Its .... seed, life, looking ahead, .... responsibility.
Seventh Generation
PEACE III PARTNERSHIP
NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS
Q & A
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