PRONI Relatives for Justice RFJ Presentation Jan 2016

PRONI { Relatives for Justice (RFJ) Presentation Jan 2016

Founded in April 1991 by bereaved families & human rights advocates Initial aims & objectives; highlight violations; bring an international human rights focus & dimension; to take a case to ECt. HR seeking effective remedy To support families About RFJ

Plethora of support services regionally Support services open to ALL victims & survivors Advocacy & casework, therapeutic & counselling, vocational & non-vocational activities, peer & group work, welfare advice Unique holistic model of support delivery Judith Herman model Gender lens to all work RFJ Today

Official narrative – What is it? Fact-finding Truth-telling/recovery Historic memory Family/community/societal narrative Story-telling Investigatory mechanisms Understanding, context, thematic Information key to families

Accessing public records Inquest files Court records Trial transcripts Documents released All essential to the various requirements of families History – accounts/records/oral archives/ a living history PRONI playing a positive role Public Records – A Critical Role

UN Right to Truth UN Right to Freedom of Expression Right to know Article 10 ECHR & Article 19 UNDHR UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparations & Non-Recurrence A Rights Based Framework

Documents previously available By definition these are public records Reported on in the public domain FOIA – responsible/responding authority Undertaking process Redactions “Classified” vs. declassified materials How all of this can/often be interpreted Consultation Current State of Play

Provides necessary information – finding out/knowing Facilitates the various needs of the bereaved Assists in healing & recovery Empowers & enables families to continue other processes Helps build trust & confidence in institutions Restores various relationships Improved mental health & wellbeing Participative role realized Positive Impacts

Information not provided – not knowing Creates mistrust & suspicion of institutional cover-up Fuels disharmony & discord Depression, anxiety, contributes to poor mental health Greater sense of isolation & marginalization Added/aggravated trauma Impacting on many aspects of community & civic society Negative Impacts

Some parents shielded/protected their children from details of what occurred Genuine fear of further loss Incidents were not discussed and only referred to briefly Too painful to raise questions A generation with no historic memory whatsoever about what actually happened Only when parents passed did those children (now adults) feel it appropriate to enquire and establish basic facts Contemporaneous disinformation from those responsible where families weren’t equipped to challenge Practical Examples

Providing families with information Addressing the very human need to know what happened a loved one Government working for citizens Strengthening institutions & departments Playing a key positive and influential role in addressing legacy Contributing to healing & recovery Doing What is Right Expected