Irlanda del nord: alcuni dati per comprendere meglio

Tratto da un pubblicazione dell'associazione Barnardos: giving children back their future (www.barnardos.org.uk)
E' un po' lunga ma ne vale la pena.

si tratta di "We'll never be the same. Learning with children,parents and communities through ongoing political conflict and trauma: a resource". Di Rosie Burrows and Brid Keenan

La pubblicazione integrale è scaricabile dal sito e molto interessante per capire anche come queste associazioni lavorano


Political and social context

Northern Ireland has existed in a state of conflictsince its inception as a state in 1921. The period from 1969 to
the ceasefires of 1994 marks the longest period of violent political confict in any area of Western Europe.

More than 3,700individuals over a period of more than thirty years have been killed during the conflict, with many
more injured both physically and psychologically (Fay et al, 197).Seventy-three per cent of all deaths were of
people under the age of thirty-nine.More than 115,000 peoplehave lost a close relative.The families of1,800
people killed do not know the truth in relation to the details surrounding how and who killed their relative.


Children have arguably been the‘least visible and most adversely affected victims’(Smythand Thompson,2001).
For example, over 70per cent of children have witnessed a shooting or explosion,many children and young
people have experienced the loss of a parent as a result of death and imprisonment,and all children have been
affected as a consequence of restrictions on children’s play (McKeown, 2001).

Inequality and division

Thereare deep divisions and extensive levels of inequality on issues related to class, political affiliation,age,
gender and disability.Catholic households are more likely to bein poverty at36per cent compared to 25per
cent of Protestant households. Although the topfour income groups posses 67per cent of all income,some
148,900children live in poor households,37.6per cent of al children (Hilyardet al, 2003). There is a high
percentage of children and young people in the population,36.17per cent of whom are under the age of
twentyfive, and36.47per cent of al households have dependent children (NorthernIreland Census, 2001).


There are also higher levels ofl lone-parent families,children on the Child Protection Register,and disabled
children than in England, Scotland orWales (Our children, their future manifesto for children in Northern
Ireland,2001).NorthernIreland is also now offcialy poorer than the Republic of Ireland(Hilyardetal,2003).



Impact of the con?ict on physical and mental health


the population experiences poorer health compared with other parts of Europe,particularly in terms of serious physical and
mental health conditions,with wide spread use of medication and self-medicati0n(Investingforhealth, 202). Twenty
per cent of thepopulation have a limiting long-term illnes.
One person in six suffers from a diagnosed condition such as depression or anxiety(Promoting mental health:
strategy action plan 2003–2008). A recent large-scale survey concluded that the mental health of the population has been significantly affected by theTroubles (O’Reilyand Stevenson,2003).Another study found that eleven-
to fifteen-year-old had higher levels of depression
than‘normal’populations(Donoly, 1995).


There has been an increase in domestic violence incident reporting since the ceasefires,an increase in drug and
alcohol abuse, racial attacks and an increase in suicides, particularly among young men. Official estimates of
adults and children officially suffering from post-traumaticstres disorder (PTSD)are likely to be an understate-
ment at 10per cent(AngelaSmith, 2003).


Peace and polarisation

Despite the political peaceprocess and the ceasefires by the main republican and loyalist groups,increasing
segregation is apparent over the past decade, and physical bariers beetwen working-class communities,
peacelines,have not come down.There are atleast seventeen purpose-built peacelines in Belfast, marking an
interface with a steel fence or solid wall(Belfast InterfaceProject, 1998).


On the contrary,there is evidence of increasing violence at such interfaces(JarmanandO’Haloran,2000). While
middle-class areas have widely benefited from the peace process, working-class communities are not experiencing
similar benefits. Continuing violent conflict in many working-class areas is ‘placing communities under severe stress
and increasing demands on services’(Northand West Belfast Healthand Social ServicesTrust,2002).


Children and young people

Despite the growth of restorative justice initiatives, childrenand young people in many disadvantaged
communities have been direct victims of, or exposed to, ‘punishment’ beatingsand shootings,in community
attempts to control local crime in the absence of acceptable state policing(Fay et al, 1999).


Polarisation has proceded a pace, touching every aspect of life here.Despite the peace process,Shirlow’s (2003)
research shows that there is less integration than ten years ago. For example, of the eighteen- to twenty-five-
year-olds surveyed,68percent of young people had not met young people from the‘other side’of the political
divide.
Ninety-five per cent ofchildren and young people are segregated in school by the nature of the education
ssystem, divided by a history of discriminatory and parallel polarised development,on the basis of national identity
and religion.


Moreover, polarisation includes many other social issues. For example, although 47per cent of young people
leave school with no formal qualifications, there is also thehighest percentage of young people with the highest
grades in A and AS levels.


A recent consultation by Barnardo’s with children and young people from a range of services showed that in
relation to the political and social context, they felt‘concern about sectarianism and sectarian and other forms of violence… It must be a top priority as it’s a very negative impact for all young people and their families [and]that
parents and parenthood are valued along with children and childhood’ (Consultationon Creatinga visionforal
ourchildren,2003).

devo dire che alcuni dati provocano un certo effetto...