Sectarianism Policy Statement

Sectarianism is not a problem confined to interfaces where violence flares up periodically. It is something that is found at every level of society right across Northern Ireland. Research has shown that children as young as three and four are able to recognise and show preferences for sectarian symbols. Sectarianism affects every aspect of our lives, from where we can live, travel, work and be educated, to how much it costs to run public services and how Northern Ireland is viewed by investors. Northern Ireland is an institutionally sectarian society where public money is spent in propping up or at least acquiescing in enforced separation, rather then on challenging it. The voluntary and community sector recognises that it is not immune to this and must work hard to challenge its own practices and assumptions.

The A Shared Future consultation launched by government in 2003 has begun a dialogue which is long overdue. For too long sectarianism has been the ‘elephant in the room’ – unavoidable but never discussed. It is important to stress that sectarianism is not the preserve of only one community – it is alive and well in both of the main ‘traditions’ in Northern Ireland. All sectors of society, including businesses and employers who have not traditionally faced these issues, must be encouraged to confront the problem of sectarianism head on and bring about the cultural change that legislation cannot enforce.

The voluntary and community sector has a crucial role to play in healing social divisions and increasing community cohesion. The sector is well placed to encourage tolerance, trust, respect for difference and acceptance of diversity, and to work against sectarian and racist attitudes and behaviour. Organisations within the voluntary and community sector often have experience of the richness that diversity can bring to our lives. However, voluntary and community organisations cannot be expected to bear the burden of anti-sectarian and anti-racist work when those with the full weight of public resources behind them are not playing their part. Building trust should be a core task for every institution and organisation in Northern Ireland.

In this context government should:

• Continue, develop and resource the debate that the A Shared Future consultation has begun, drawing in as many people as possible across Northern Ireland to contribute to a new vision for the future.
• Develop a good relations strategy that puts anti-sectarianism and a framework of equality, diversity and interdependence at the heart of the work of each department and public body. Piecemeal approaches should be abandoned in favour of a concerted approach with benchmarks and agreed progress indicators. The strategy should include active promotion of the good relations duty in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act, but recognise that this is the floor and not the ceiling of our ambitions in building a culture of trust and respect for diversity.
• Provide the necessary political and civic leadership to tackle sectarianism at all levels, recognising that building trust and achieving community cohesion are long-term aims.
• Support and provide real choice for those who want integrated housing and schooling and address sectarianism in public housing allocation.
• Include anti-sectarian awareness raising in schools as part of the citizenship section of the new curriculum and train teachers appropriately in diversity, awareness techniques and conflict management to deliver this. Voluntary organisations with expertise in this field should be fully supported by government to facilitate this work.