PEACE III PARTNERSHIP

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



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



NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN PEACE III CLUSTER

North Down

Ards

Down



£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



SECTARIANISM IN NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN

No Peace Walls

No Interfaces




“Our two communities live side by side in harmony”

“Yea – we’re sectarian and proud of it”




88% believe sectarianism in the cluster

Division

Prejudice

Denial

Hatred




How Sectarianism manifests

Flags, emblems and murals Community Unrest Violence Intimidation / Threats Isolation Divided Living Apathy Verbal abuse Banter / Craic



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



APPROACHES TO ADDRESS SECTARIANISM

Awareness raising

Capacity building

Cross community interaction

Removal of physical manifestations

Conflict Mediation Support

Community events / celebrations



APPROACHES TO ADDRESS SECTARIANISM

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Addressing Conflict

Building Positive Relations

Developing Leadership

Partnership Working

Sharing Communities, Sharing Resources



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



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



APPROACH - DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP

Investing in young people and prepare them for a future that embraces diversity and promotes acceptance

Promoting and facilitating leadership



APPROACH - PARTNERSHIP WORKING

Building cross border and cross community linkages



APPROACH - SHARING COMMUNITIES, SHARING RESOURCES

Addressing racism across the cluster



ACHIEVEMENTS IN ADDRESSING SECTARIANISM









DIFFICULTIES IN ADDRESSING - SECTARIANISM

Social / economic situation

Political context

Community Tensions

Tackling a belief system that is deep in our society



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



WHAT WE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY - SECTARIANISM

Multi faceted approach

Education

Political Leadership

Community Development

Initiatives with young people

Family focus

Concerted action by everyone



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



Q & A

Documents

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP