1. Social & Economic Rights Northern Ireland Paddy Logue DTNI Seminar June 15th 2017

2. The VCSE Sector NI Shift in “equitable partnership” between Government and sector threatens independence forcing sector to dance to funders’ tune Two tier sector emerging, the rich get richer… Suspicions around funding of pet projects in devolved administration Sector bogged down in dealing with the legacy of the conflict Bulk of the work is the provision of services (many privatised) to the needy Focus on needs of clients, not on the rights of equals Activism and radicalism, protest and agitation, now rare Sustainability a constant worry, morale at all time low

3. From needs to rights, from rights to equality This movement requires a dramatic change in the culture of VCSE sector: It is community division, not social justice, that is setting the agenda of community development: the task is to reverse that To move from service provision to a rights-based approach requires a re- think of the relationships in community development (co-production) Needs analysis should reference social and economic rights (work; social security; family life; adequate food, clothing and housing; health; education; participation in cultural life) Challenging injustice (i.e. seeking justice) by negotiation, legal action and evidence-based collective action

4. Human Rights & Social Justice Focus on rights of individual Human rights approaches in court can challenge decisions Strongest rights are civic and political rights, weakest are economic, social and cultural Challenges State power Making State bodies act in accordance with obligations Orientated towards court challenges Focus on community and collective action Emphasis on process of building participation and challenging injustice Concerned mainly with social and economic inequalities Challenges State, private sector and individuals Challenges exclusion of Section 75 groups Social justice creates framework for understanding power relationships and building solidarity

5. The Co-production Imperative Co-production is based on four core values: Assets i.e. the real wealth of society is its people Redefining work i.e. work includes whatever it takes to rear healthy children, safe communities, caring for the frail, redressing injustice, making democracy work Reciprocity i.e. replace top-down one way service with two way relationships: “you need me” becomes “we need each other” Social capital i.e. social infrastructure requires ongoing investment in social capital generated by trust, reciprocity and community engagement N.B. The essential element is the rights-based social justice perspective

6. Specific Actions for VCSE Sector Build capacity in the sector on the social justice approach to community development Challenge funders/policy makers on the responsibilities that “equitable partnership” and real engagement with the community imply Challenge the VCSE sector on the relationship inequalities implied in providing services to the needy, isolated and vulnerable Challenge the VCSE sector to analyse power, to build solidarity around rights and to take effective and appropriate action Build capacity in the sector to mount a campaign for an equitable legal framework to empower sustainable development and regeneration

7. Reading Power Analysis Tool Kit, CFNI, 2014 Independence of VCSE Sector in NI, Building Change Trust. 2016 Social Justice Approach to Community Development, CFNI, 2012 Saving Money by Doing the Right Thing, Professor John Seddon, Locality Report, 2014 State of the Sector, NICVA, 2017 No more throw away people: the co-production imperative, Edgar Cahn, 2004 Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire, 1970