Agreement Reached in the Multi-Party Negotiations - Transitional ...

An inter-departmental Working Group on Victims’ Issues was set up through the
OFMDFM. The draft Programme for Government committed the Executive to preparing
a Victims’ Strategy. 62
A Commissioner for Victims and Survivors has recently been appointed and the latest
OFMDFM victims’ strategy 63 reiterates the definition of victim, advocates an overarching
strategic approach, the appointment of a victims and survivors advisor in each health
board and a one-stop shop to simplify the process for victims.
Two victims’ representatives have been appointed to the Civic Forum.
5.6.1 Women Victims
While women benefit from the various strategies – ranging from Trauma Advisory Panels
to support for re-housing – a gender-specific assessment of victims needs does not appear
to have been carried out. Evaluations of the distribution of official funding have given
breakdowns based on geographical areas, rural/urban, political opinion and communities
(Catholic/Protestant) served. 64 Women’s needs are articulated through various groups,
including women’s groups. Groups have indicated that the majority of service users are
women and that males and young people are under-represented. 65 How are the needs of
individual victims met who may not wish, for many different reasons, to go through a
group?
5.7 Definition of Victim
Definitions of victim have been problematic in a number of ways: such a definition
touches on and may reveal perceptions of the conflict, awakening the debate that the
Agreement sought to avoid. The issues around victims’ rights have dwelt on a perceived
‘hierarchy of victims’ where some are regarded as more innocent than others, or on how to
deal with victims of the conflict and future victims. While there has not been a gender
analysis of victimhood, broad definitions of victim are more likely to be inclusive of
women’s experiences. Such broad definitions acknowledge psychological as well as
physical injury; the suffering caused to family members; and by taking a wider view of what
constitutes acts of violence, may incorporate women’s experiences.
5.7.1 OFMDFM
In the strategy paper launched by the Victims Unit within the OFMDFM 66 , victims are
defined as ‘the surviving physically and psychologically injured of violent, conflict related
incidents and those close relatives or parties who mourn their dead.’ No specific reference
is made to women but the strategy is to be implemented in line with Section 75 of the
62 See OFMDFM Victims Unit Consultation Paper on a Victims Strategy, 2001 and summary of responses
published in January 2002 – Victims Unit A Summary of Responses to a Consultation Paper of a Victims Strategy,
April 2002. OFMDFM Victims Unit Reshape, Rebuild, Achieve: Delivering Practical Help and Services to Victims of the
Conflict in Northern Ireland, Belfast, 2002. New strategy in Northern Ireland Executive, Building on Progress: Priorities
and Plans for 2003-2006.
63 Services for Victims and Survivors, Consultation on Next Phase of Policy in Relation to Services for
Victims and Survivors of the Troubles in Northern and on the Establishment of a Commissioner for Victims
and Supporters, March 2005
64 For example, Clio Evaluation Consortium, Evaluation of the Core Funding Programme for
Victims’/Survivors Groups, 2002, and Deloitte & Touche, Evaluation of Services to Victims and Survivors
of the Troubles, Summary Report, 2001
65 Deloitte & Touche, Evaluation of Services to Victims and Survivors of the Troubles, Summary Report
2001
66 OFMDFM Victims Unit Reshape, Rebuild, Achieve: Delivering Practical Help and Services to Victims of the Conflict
in Northern Ireland, Belfast, 2002
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