Peace Agreements Database

Country/entity

Ireland
United Kingdom
(Northern Ireland)

Region

Europe and Eurasia

Agreement name

Joint Declaration by the British and Irish Governments

Date

01/04/2003

Agreement status

Multiparty signed/agreed

Interim arrangement

No

Agreement/conflict level

Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) (Northern Ireland Conflict (1968 - 1998)

Commonly referred to as ‘the Troubles’, the most recent conflict over the territory of Northern Ireland can be framed as beginning in 1968 and ending with the Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement) in 1998. While the genesis of the conflict was closely related to pressures for the state to reform with relation to discrimination against the (minority) Catholic population, the core issue of the conflict as it proceeded was the constitutional status of Northern Ireland, which was contested between the unionist/loyalist (mostly Protestant) majority, who wanted the territory to remain as part of the United Kingdom, and the nationalist/republican (mostly Catholic) minority, whose goal was to unite the six provincial counties with the Republic of Ireland. The thirty years prior to the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement were marked by inter-communal violence, active paramilitary groups, and the deployment of the British army in the province. Mediation by international actors, and dialogue between the British and Irish governments, and between the IRA and its representatives and the British Government eventually resulted in a ceasefire respected by the majority of combatants. Talks led to the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement which established a power-sharing system of governance between nationalist and unionist communities.

Northern Ireland Conflict (1968 - 1998) )

Stage

Implementation/renegotiation (Implementation modalities)

Conflict nature

Government/territory

Peace process

62: Northern Ireland peace process

Parties

British government, Irish Government

Third parties

Description

Declaration by the two Governments outlining the work that they had engaged in since the suspension of the Executive and the Assembly in 2002 and identifying areas where progress could be made in the ongoing implementation.

Agreement document

UK_IE_030401_Joint Declaration by the British and Irish Governments.pdf []

Main category

Page 7, Policing and Justice, 21.
The new beginning in policing envisaged by the Agreement, requires, amongst other things, all community leaders, including political party leaders and local councillors, to take steps to remove all discouragements to members of the community from supporting and applying to join the police, and making it a priority to encourage them to apply. Part of this process would involve Sinn Féin deciding to join the Policing Board and the District Policing Partnerships. In recognition of the importance of policing with the support of the community, the PSNI will renew and continue its efforts to encourage applications from all parts of the community, including those in which the service has traditionally been under-represented. Efforts should be made to encourage recruitment from women and ethnic minorities.

Page 20, ANNEX 3, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY, Human Rights, 1.
In the Agreement, the parties affirmed their commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community, and affirmed in particular:...• the right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnicity;...• the right of women to full and equal political participation.

Page 21, ANNEX 3, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY, Equality, 7.
As provided in the Agreement, both the British Government and, prior to suspension last October, the devolved administration in Northern Ireland, have pursued broad policies for sustained economic growth and stability in Northern Ireland and for promoting social inclusion, including in particular community development and the advancement of women in public life.

Women, girls and gender

Participation

Effective participation

Page 20, ANNEX 3, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY, Human Rights, 1.
In the Agreement, the parties affirmed their commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community, and affirmed in particular:...• the right of women to full and equal political participation.

Equality

Social equality

Page 20, ANNEX 3, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY, Human Rights, 1.
In the Agreement, the parties affirmed their commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community, and affirmed in particular:...• the right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnicity;...

Page 21, ANNEX 3, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY, Equality, 7.
As provided in the Agreement, both the British Government and, prior to suspension last October, the devolved administration in Northern Ireland, have pursued broad policies for sustained economic growth and stability in Northern Ireland and for promoting social inclusion, including in particular community development and the advancement of women in public life.

Particular groups of women

No specific mention.

International law

No specific mention.

New institutions

No specific mention.

Violence against women

No specific mention.

Transitional justice

No specific mention.

Institutional reform

Police

Page 7, Policing and Justice, para 21
The new beginning in policing envisaged by the Agreement, requires, amongst other things, all community leaders, including political party leaders and local councillors, to take steps to remove all discouragements to members of the community from supporting and applying to join the police, and making it a priority to encourage them to apply. Part of this process would involve Sinn Féin deciding to join the Policing Board and the District Policing Partnerships. In recognition of the importance of policing with the support of the community, the PSNI will renew and continue its efforts to encourage applications from all parts of the community, including those in which the service has traditionally been under-represented. Efforts should be made to encourage recruitment from women and ethnic minorities.

Development

No specific mention.

Implementation

No specific mention.

Other

No specific mention.