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Martin SnoddonDirector Northern Spring
From WarTo
Peace
•Journey of Political Prisoners in N.I.
•Peace Breaking
•Peace Making
•Peace Keeping
•Peace Building
Belfast Prison
Political Prisoners
•Speculation that there exists between 30,000 and 40,000 former political ex-prisoners in N. Ireland;
Long KeshPrison
Political Prisoners
•120,000 family members impacted upon by imprisonment;
H-BocksMaze Prison
Political Prisoners
•Population of N. Ireland in 2001 was 1,685,267.
•7.1% of that population had been impacted upon by imprisonment.
Political Lectures & Debates
FormalEducation
PrisonerReleases
• Prior to the negotiated agreement for the release of prisoners we had 29,500 prisoners already released having completed their sentences.
• In 1991 ex-prisoners started to formalise their support structures - 1994 ceasefires led to increased resources from E.U. for services.
• Roughly 500 were released over a 2 year period after the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
Governments Involved
•American Government Influence;
•Irish Government;
•British Government;
•European Government Intervention.
Political Ex-PrisonerNeeds for Reintegration
•Family Integration;
•Local Community Integration;
•Wider Society Integration.
ReintegrationPractical Issues
•Advice & Support;
•Housing;
•Skills Development;
•Employment;
•Psychological Support;
Legacy of Imprisonment In N.
Ireland• Research has identified:
• high levels of resilience (+)
• PTSD - over 50% (-)
• Depression (-)
• Drug & Alcohol abuse (-)
• Financial problems (-)
• significant psychological harm (-)
Legacy of Imprisonment
• ‘Military culture’ exists were few people talk about their experiences, they do not want to be:
• Blamed for the war;
• Do want to be stigmatised because of mental health problems;
• Feelings of shame and weakness;
• Level of trust with service providers.
Shared Experience of Reintegration Programmes
• S. Africa
• Nicaragua
• Balkans
• Gaza
• Haiti
• Somalia ?
Leadership
•Political leaders emerged from the ex-prisoner and ex-combatants population;
Political Leadershipfrom former combatant
Martin McGuinness
Leadership
•Community leaders emerged;
Ex-PrisonersDemonstrating Community
Leadership
Engagement inPeace Building
•The vast majority existing in local communities building peace through dialogue.
Republican & LoyalistPolitical Ex-Prisoners
Peace Building
Political Ex-prisonersInfluence on next
generation
Political Ex-prisoners
as Gang Members
HaitiReintegration
Port au PrinceCommunity Action
N. Ireland Community Leadership
Future Pacing
Importance ofReintegration
•Reintegration is CRITICAL.
•Leadership & Support Structures.
RecommendedSupport Structure• Service Director
• Research Officer
• Outreach Officer x 7
• Welfare Advice Officer x 2
• Psychotherapist x 2
• Administration Officer
• Training Officer
Partners in Peace
•Civil Society Organisations
•Social Justice Approach
Benefits
•An ongoing Peace Process;
•Transformation of how we experience each other;
•A gift to future generations.
From WarTo
Peace
•Journey of Political Prisoners in N.I.
•Peace Breaking
•Peace Making
•Peace Keeping
•Peace Building
Political Ex-prisoner
Identity
Beliefs
Values
Capabilities
Behaviour
Environment
Reintegrationis
Critical for Peace
DecommissionedPrison Camp