Northern Ireland has a population of 1,577,836. Of these, 605,639 are Catholic, 788,136 are other religions, mostly Protestant and 174,061 are none or did not state.
(The Northern Ireland Census, 1991)
This gives a rough guide to the size of the communities within Ireland. Since the 12th Century constant disagreements challenged the British on Ireland. It later led a chain of events leading to civil war and the separation of the country. In the south of Ireland, 26 counties formed a separate state, while six counties in the north stayed within the UK.
Over the following decades the Catholic minority suffered discrimination over housing and jobs, which fuelled a greater resentment. In 1969 Catholic civil rights marches and other protests led by Protestant loyalists spiralled into violence between both communities. The British Military were sent in but soon came into conflict with the IRA (Irish Republican Army). Loyalist paramilitary groups responded with a campaign of violence against the Catholic community. As the situation worsened, Northern Ireland's parliament was suspended.
Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s paramilitary groups waged violent campaigns to pursue their goals. The IRA carried out deadly bomb and gun attacks in Britain and Northern Ireland which targeted the Police Service, Military Soldiers, Politicians and civilians. In the early 1990s negotiations took place between political parties, the British and Irish governments. After several years of talks the IRA and loyalist ceased fire. Then later in 1998 the Good Friday agreement was signed.
The Human Rights Act 1998 – The Human Rights Act include requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights into United Kingdom law. The specific aim of the European Convention on Human Rights is to protect human rights and to maintain and promote the views and values of a democratic society. It sets out the basic rights of every person together with the limitations placed on these rights in order to protect the rights of others and of the wider community. This act must be applied with no discrimination at all - including sex, race, colour, gender, religion, language, national or social background, opinions or ideas or birth place. The Human Rights Act applies to public bodies counting the police, criminal courts, local authorities/ government and the prison service and private authorities.
The Human Rights Act gives legal effect in the UK to 16 of the fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the European Convention on Human Rights. These rights not only affect matters of life and death like freedom from torture and killing but also affect your rights in everyday life, for example: what you can say and do, your beliefs, your right to a fair trial and many other similar basic entitlements.
The rights are not absolute – governments have the power to limit or control them in times of severe need or emergency. You also have the responsibility to respect the rights of other people.
Human Rights consist of the following –
(1) The right to life
(2) Freedom from torture and degraded treatment.
(3) Freedom from slavery and forced labour.
(4) The right to liberty.
(5) The right to a fair trial.
(6) The right not to be punished for something that wasn't a crime when you did it.
(7) The right to respect for private and family life.
(8) Freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
(9) Freedom of expression.
(10) Freedom of assembly and association.
(11) The right to marry or form a civil partnership and start a family.
(12) The right not to be discriminated against in respect of these rights and freedoms.
(13) The right to own property.
(14) The right to an education.
(15) The right to participate in free elections.
(16) If your rights are abused you have the right it to report
www.direct.gov.uk/RightsAndResponsibilities
Northern Ireland has always been known for it disputes and rows over Catholic and Protestant which is also known that the dispute has a lot of history and has also been going on for along time now. From the above it shows the main reason for Ireland to become separated was due to religion, both communities could not work along side which later erupted into violence towards one another and situations were becoming strenuous to handle and too frequent. Both sides were being discriminated against due to religion. From this it shows that both parties did not follow the Human Rights Act and did not abide by these rules. Not only was this a conflict for Ireland but it was a conflict for the United Kingdom.
As stated above there are many worldwide conflicts relating to religion which makes the conflicts harder to control. People who believe so deeply in something feel that they have a “right” to carry out what they believe, they may not also understand or want to understand someone else views or religious choice.
Also include in this discussion paper is an article from “The Mail on Sunday” of which is another example of conflicts of religion. This is in the United Kingdom but obviously on a smaller scale that Northern Ireland or Bosnia but nevertheless it is still a conflict of religion. The article states how “Rival Muslims and Irish gangs brawled in prison over a conflict. This conflict of religion caused a lot of unwanted aggravation and it has now been said that an investigation will be launch in order to resolve or calm the situation down as well as the overcrowding of prisons.
”Muslims and Irish gangs are said to have stretched tensions to breaking point”.
The Mail on Sunday, Harper. T, 3rd/02/2008) Page 13, Paragraph 9
Worldwide political decisions are changing as is society so in order for society to be ruled and ran effectively there has to be constant change, some changes from government may not always be the right change but in order for situations, issues and arguments to be resolved some mistakes need to happen. This allows for society, Governments, the EU and other organisations to learn from their mistakes and allow them to work more effectively and efficiently in various situation or issues for both the short term and long term and such in religious conflicts both on a small scale and a larger scale.
Word Count – 1345
References
The Mail on Sunday, Harper. T, (3rd/02/2008) Page 13, Paragraph 9
The Northern Ireland Census, 1991
www.wikipedia.org/Religiouswar, (3rd/02/2008)
www.direct.gov.uk/RightsAndResponsibilities, (3rd/02/2008)
