WOMEN SURVIVING WAR AND FORGING PEACE IN NORTHERN IRELAND REBECCA THOMAS – SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY

THE NORTHERN IRELAND ‘TROUBLES’ – a brief history Ethno-national conflict – competing conceptions of national identityEthno-national conflict – competing conceptions of national identity Over 30 years of violence - “The Troubles”Over 30 years of violence - “The Troubles” 3,600 killed. 40,000 injured.3,600 killed. 40,000 injured. Peace agreement reached “The Good Friday Agreement” / Belfast AgreementPeace agreement reached “The Good Friday Agreement” / Belfast Agreement Devolved parliament operational since 2007 – power- sharing Executive & the Northern Ireland AssemblyDevolved parliament operational since 2007 – power- sharing Executive & the Northern Ireland Assembly Success Story?Success Story?

WOMEN IN CONFLICT Women as VictimsWomen as Victims –Relatively low number of “direct victims” of violence: 323 out of over 3,600 killed –High-profile cases: Rosemary Nelson; Jean McConville –Many more women became “indirect victims” of violence –Bereavement, loss, separation –“Societal victims” Women as Combatants –Active participants –Supporters of the “armed struggle” –Roles in paramilitary organisations: Máiread Farrell; Republican Prisoners; “dirty protests”; hunger strikers –Supporting roles: safe houses; messengers; “Derry bin- bashers”

WOMEN IN PEACE PEACE ACTIVISTSPEACE ACTIVISTS –“Women for Peace” –“The Peace People” Máiread Corrigan & Betty WilliamsMáiread Corrigan & Betty Williams COMMUNITY ACTIVISTSCOMMUNITY ACTIVISTS –Agents of peace through community development POLITICAL ACTIVISTSPOLITICAL ACTIVISTS –Bernadette Devlin –Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition

A ‘MALE’ PEACE AGREEMENT? Male dominance in the peace negotiationsMale dominance in the peace negotiations 18 out of 108-member Northern Ireland Assembly are women18 out of 108-member Northern Ireland Assembly are women 4 women Ministers4 women Ministers 3 women Members of Parliament3 women Members of Parliament 22% of elected local government representatives22% of elected local government representatives

A ‘Women’s Experience”? – Themes emerging from Northern Ireland There is no ‘homogenous female experience’ of conflict or peaceThere is no ‘homogenous female experience’ of conflict or peace It is a fallacy that women are ‘natural peacemakers’It is a fallacy that women are ‘natural peacemakers’ Indirect support of violence and conflictIndirect support of violence and conflict Men as peacemakersMen as peacemakers Projecting the ‘peace-maker role’ on women may disguise inequities, barriers and obstacles to formal participation by women in peace-making at the legislative, constitutional levelProjecting the ‘peace-maker role’ on women may disguise inequities, barriers and obstacles to formal participation by women in peace-making at the legislative, constitutional level Peace-building roles may reflect societal structuresPeace-building roles may reflect societal structures Context of the conflict is vital to appreciating the behaviour of women – and men.Context of the conflict is vital to appreciating the behaviour of women – and men.

Rebecca Thomas – Social Democratic and Labour Party