Childhood Experiencingin Transition Marginalisation and Conflict in Northern Ireland Siobhán McAlister Phil Scraton Deena Haydon Childhood Experiencingin Transition Marginalisation and Conflict in Northern Ireland Siobhán McAlister Phil Scraton Deena Haydon November 2009 ISBN: 978 0 8538 9962 4 © Queen’s University Belfast, Save the Children, The Prince’s Trust CDS N111993 CONTENTS 4 Foreword 6 Acknowledgements 7 About the Authors 8 Preface 11 Theoretical and Methodological Contexts 22 Northern Ireland: Transition from Conflict 35 Images of Children and Young People 46 Personal Life and Relationships 57 Education and Employment 69 Community and Policing 82 Place and Identity 92 Segregation and Sectarianism 106 Violence in the Context of Conflict and Marginalisation 117 Services and Support 136 The Rights Deficit 147 Findings and Summary of Key Issues 157 Appendix 158 References FOREWORD To be a child or young person is well as killings, physical injuries and simultaneously exciting, challenging and the trauma of war, the Conflict involved difficult. Childhood to youth to adulthood the suspension of normal powers of law is a progression through stages or periods enforcement and the due process of the of biological, social and emotional law, and the internment and incarceration development. From birth, the progress of politically-affiliated prisoners. Eventual of the baby-toddler-child-young person ceasefires and the initiation of the Peace is socialised, conditioned and monitored Process led to the 1998 Good Friday as an adult ‘in the making’. Beginning (Belfast) Agreement and political devolution with relationships in the family and the to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The community, and reinforced by religious, process of political transition, marked cultural and institutional practices, by the stop-start of the Assembly, has children can experience inclusion or progressed but the anticipated devolution of exclusion depending on wh ether they justice and policing remains to be achieved. are perceived to conform or deviate from While political transition has evolved at what is expected of them at particular a range of levels, and through a variety ages. In the socialisation of children, care of institutions, the legacy of the Conflict and protection co-exist with discipline, remains a significant aspect of life in regulation and punishment. Whatever Northern Ireland. Generations have grown the social context and cultural traditions up under the spectre of war and the trauma experienced by children, their journey of bereavement, displacement and violence. through childhood is one of continuous There has been minimal recognition transition. It is transition on several of the longer-term consequences of levels – physiological, social, institutional transgenerational trauma or of the and emotional. Physical growth and persistent impact of deeply-divided, development, especially through puberty, is segregated and sectarian communities. the most visible manifestation of transition. There has been formal acknowledgement Within different cultural and religious of the needs and ri ghts of children in traditions key moments are recognised and Northern Ireland through: recognition marked by rituals and ceremonies. The in the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement State intervenes not only in monitoring that young people from areas affected by child and adolescent development but also the Conflict face ‘particular difficulties’; through nursery, primary and secondary the establishment of the Commissioner schooling. The emotional impact on for Children and Young People; the children of their transition through each development of a Strategy for Children stage of formal education is significant, and Young People; the appointment of especially when they are assessed and two Assembly junior ministers with ranked in terms of what is considered responsibility for children within their ‘normal’ social and intellectual progression. remit; the inclusion of children’s rights In Northern Ireland there is a further, in the proposed Bill of Rights for Northern overarching and profound form of Ireland and the regional children’s transition. It is a society still emerging services plan. Yet there remain serious from thirty years of Conflict involving concerns regarding the translation of State and non-State armed groups. As these commitments and initiatives into Foreword 5 practical provision which will improve the poverty and the legacy of the Conflict, lives of children and young people living raises concerns not only about long- in the most marginalised and divided term inequalities and infrastructural communities. The relationship between the under-resourcing, but also regarding the unusually high levels of persistent poverty systemic denial of children’s rights. Just as and the legacy of the Conflict is profound some media commentators and political but has yet to be addressed effectively by opportunists have demonised children government departments. This has led and young people, seemingly seizing on to increased frustration and alienation every opportunity to condemn rather within communities and a lack of trust than understand, they have also been in the political process. A perceived lack unremitting in their criticism of what of political commitment to the needs and they term the ‘rights agenda’. Yet the aspirations of children and young people State is a signatory to the UN Convention has the potential to undermine their on the Rights of the Child and is obliged eventual participation in the democratic to implement agreed international process. standards. This it has failed to do. The in-depth research that follows challenges It is instructive to note the comments the marginalisation, demonisation and made by Alvaro Gil-Robles, European criminalisation of children and young Commissioner for Human Rights, people by presenting evidence from their following his visit to Northern Ireland daily experiences and from adults living in 2005. While recognising the positive and working in their communities. It ‘quality-of-life’ transition for many reflects the often harsh reality of life people, he raised concerns regarding the for children and young people as they relationship between material deprivation, negotiate the aftermath and legacy of social exclusion and ‘community justice’. the Conflict in the context of limited Social inequality, he considered, was opportunities. The voices of children, palpable as ‘others, across the religious young people and their advocates, divide, have less demonstrably benefited challenge optimistic representations from economic advances … one cannot of transition in Northern Ireland and but suppose that tensions and distrust will illustrate the alienating consequences of linger longer in disadvantaged, socially social, political and economic exclusion. isolated communities … exclusion and The research also exposes the extent of poverty facilitate the continuing control rights abuses and establishes a framework of such communities by criminal and for political action at a crucial, defining paramilitary structures’. In responding moment in the contemporary history to such marginalisation, it is essential of Northern Ireland. Its findings and that there is among political leaders and implications should contribute significantly state institutions the will, commitment to public education, policy change and law and imagination to give clear political reform as full devolution is achieved. leadership as well as necessary resources to facilitate effective changes within these Save the Children; The Prince’s Trust; communities. Queen’s University Belfast This research, within communities in Northern Ireland most affected by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project arose from discussions about the experiences of children and young people living with the legacy of the Conflict in the most economically deprived communities in Northern Ireland. It was a partnership project between Save the Children (NI), The Prince’s Trust (NI) and Queen’s University. We are especially indebted to Sheri Chamberlain, former Director of Save the Children (NI) and to Siobhán Craig, former Director of The Prince’s Trust (NI). Sheri’s drive and commitment to this project was, and remains, inspirational. More recently we are grateful to Marina Monteith at Save the Children (NI) and Ian Jeffers at The Prince’s Trust (NI) for continuing to support the work. Sincere thanks to all the organisations who participated in the research, to community representatives, community workers, community contacts and NGO representatives who assisted with the research. Because of the sensitivity of the work and our commitment to preserving anonymity we are not acknowledging you by name but our gratitude is no less heartfelt. Our colleagues at Queen’s, particularly the Childhood, Transition and Social Justice Initiative, have also been supportive as has the Queen’s publications team, in particular Andrew Norton. Our greatest debt, however, is to the children and young people who were so generous with their time. From those young people on The Prince’s Trust schemes who assisted with formulating the key research themes to those who attended focus groups and personal interviews, thank you so much. All who participated demonstrated insight, consideration and resolve in sharing their experiences and intimate stories. Their testimonies speak profoundly for a generation. They are voices that must not be silenced nor denied if Northern Ireland is to become an inclusive and peaceful society