PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS SECTARIANISM 18 September 2012 Janette McNulty Vice Chair, PEACE III Partnership Debbie McKinney PEACE III Project Officer

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS C ONTENT 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 N ORTH D OWN, A RDS AND D OWN PEACE III C LUSTER 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 N ORTH D OWN, A RDS AND D OWN PEACE III C LUSTER

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS S ECTARIANISM IN N ORTH D OWN, A RDS AND D OWN No Peace Walls No Interfaces

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS S ECTARIANISM IN N ORTH D OWN, A RDS AND D OWN “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 S ECTARIANISM IN N ORTH D OWN, A RDS AND D OWN 88% believe sectarianism in the cluster Division Prejudice Denial Hatred

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS S ECTARIANISM IN N ORTH D OWN, A RDS AND D OWN 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 I SSUES I NFLUENCING S ECTARIANISM 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 A PPROACHES T O A DDRESS S ECTARIANISM 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 A PPROACHES TO A DDRESS S ECTARIANISM STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Addressing Conflict Building Positive Relations Developing Leadership Partnership Working Sharing Communities, Sharing Resources

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS A PPROACH - A DDRESSING C ONFLICT Address the physical legacy of the troubles including flags, emblems, murals and memorials Support women and their families address the 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 A PPROACH - B UILDING P OSITIVE R ELATIONS 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 A PPROACH - D EVELOPING L EADERSHIP 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 A PPROACH - P ARTNERSHIP W ORKING Building cross border and cross community linkages

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS A PPROACH - S HARING C OMMUNITIES, S HARING R ESOURCES Addressing racism across the cluster

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS A CHIEVEMENTS IN A DDRESSING S ECTARIANISM

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS A CHIEVEMENTS I N A DDRESSING S ECTARIANISM

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS A CHIEVEMENTS IN A DDRESSING S ECTARIANISM

PEACE III PARTNERSHIP NORTH DOWN, ARDS AND DOWN COUNCILS D IFFICULTIES IN A DDRESSING - S ECTARIANISM 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 S ECTARIANISM 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 W HAT WE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY - S ECTARIANISM 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 S UMMARISE 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