 Post-conference Report
June 2008 saw Belfast play host to a major international conference focused the contribution of women in building peace in conflict zones around the world. The international 3 day conference was the culmination of the Peace by Piece programme. Funded by the European Union’s Peace and Reconciliation Programme 2000-2006 under Measure 2.4 Pathways to Inclusion, Integration and Reconciliation of Victims and managed for the Special European Union Programmes Body by The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, this project involved 50 local women participating in a training programme designed to enhance their skills and gain a greater understanding of the role of women in Peacebuilding around the world. Over the course of this unique training programme local women have had the opportunity to examine how the political processes of the UN and EU impact upon local issues and have undertake to improve their own skills in order to cascade their learning back into their own communities.The programme and conference were developed and delivered by Training for Women Network (TWN) in association with Women into Politics, WomensTec, NI Commission for Children and Young People, NI Womens European Platform, UCIT and Footprints Womens Centre. The report based on this unique programme and conference event is available to view online or to download.  (220kB file in pdf format)
Link to the Peace by Piece Conference website |
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Belfast Showcases Women's Role in Building Peace Globally
Belfast has played host to a major international conference focused the contribution of women in building peace in conflict zones around the world. The event took place in the Waterfront Hall from June 24 – 26 and featured a variety of workshops hosted by a range of international speakers in addition to local women who hosted sessions for delegates. Actress and campaigner Joanna Lumley opened the event on Tuesday 24 June |
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Women Demonstrate to Save Vital Community-Based Training and Education Services
Women from training and education groups and women’s organisations from across Northern Ireland demonstrated outside the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont on 23rd June 2008 to highlight the threat to community-based services across the region. Over 250 women were joined by Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to raise awareness of the issues.
A letter of protest was handed to Sue Ramsey MLA, Chair of the Committee for Employment and Learning, for the Minister, Sir Reg Empey. Many of the groups represented were at the point of closure of women’s training and education services or of the organisations themselves. The letter asked the Minister to intervene to save these vital community services. |
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Unionist Women Active in the Conflict in Northern Ireland
 Conflict affects women and men differently and it has become internationally recognised that reconstruction processes to reintegrate former combatants following the cessation of conflict should be differentiated by gender, as women are often squeezed into programmes that are designed for men and do not fulfil women’s needs. This gender differentiation has not been attempted in Northern Ireland, so a project was designed for Belfast whereby female former combatants from both sides of the conflict could be engaged in a support programme more appropriate to the needs of women.
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“Is There Any Worthwhile Training and Education Going On in the Community?" Community-based Women's Training Under Threat (Again)
Once again sources of support for women’s community-based training are diminishing. The Peace Programme, which has been the source of funding for many groups, is reducing and has moved focus away from training-based projects and the European Social Fund (ESF), where groups are expected to go instead, has been beyond the reach of many organisations and even those that have successfully applied have found it extremely difficult to secure the required match funding. However, more worrying is the policy direction of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), which has turned from supporting community-based training and education to an expectation that groups will instead tender for learner support contracts from the colleges of further education. |
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Women's Rights and Northern Ireland
The negotiated settlement to the conflict in Northern Ireland, including the Belfast Agreement of 1998, recognised that there were rights particular to the context of Northern Ireland in addition to the existing provisions under UK, Irish or European law and conventions. The Human Rights Commission (www.nihrc.org) was established to advise the Secretary of State on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Human Rights Consortium (www.billofrightsni.org) was formed in 2000 to campaign for a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights, to ensure that civil society contributes to the process. |
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