UHRW – draft Northern Ireland Budget fails to provide for Victims

Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) has stated the draft Northern Ireland Budget fails to provide for a Victims’ Payments Scheme and is therefore “appalling and callous treatment” of innocent victims of terrorism.

There is no provision in the 2021/22 Budget which means victims have been cut adrift with no clear commitment by the devolved Stormont institutions to make long overdue payments.

UHRW Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “Deadlines have come and gone with little or no sense of urgency in finding a resolution over who pays.

“Our victims are pawns in a deplorable political game of ping-pong. It does no one any credit, neither the devolved Stormont administration nor the Government.

“We’d been told by the Justice Minister that we could see payments by March, but in the absence of a funding stream in the Finance Minister’s draft budget, that now seems a forlorn hope.

“This is appalling and callous treatment that should be roundly condemned. Let’s get this political mess sorted out and some financial help offered to innocent victims.

“Surely, it’s within the capacity of our Executive Ministers and the Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, to come up with a solution that draws a line under this shameful chapter.

“A compromise or temporary fix is urgently required until we can resolve all outstanding matters. We have already asked Mr Lewis for a meeting, which is now urgent. We will also lobby Ministers to see what can be done to get payments to the people who need them and who, for far too long, have suffered in silence.”

UHRW calls on Irish Government to build legacy structures

Ulster Human Rights Watch has called on the Irish Government to develop mechanisms for dealing with the past that mirror those already in place in Northern Ireland.

UHRW made the call following publication of the Government’s response to the Interim Report by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past.

UHRW Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “We welcome the willingness of the Government to engage with civic society including with organisations such as Ulster Human Rights Watch which represents victims of terrorism.

“The Government notes that the Irish Government needs to maintain a collaborative approach, which has not always been the case in the past.

“What is also required is for the Irish Government to create and develop mechanisms for dealing with the past that mirror those already implemented in Northern Ireland. Right now, they are out of step and some considerable way off the pace.

“We view as positive the Government desire to address the needs of veterans alongside those of victims of terrorism.

“The Government believes it is right to focus on information recovery but this cannot be dissociated from the pursuit of justice for victims of terrorism.

“The Government says it wants to move on towards reconciliation but what is meant by reconciliation has yet to be defined.

“UHRW has already requested a meeting with the Secretary of State and looks forward to discussing arrangements for dealing with all aspects of legacy.”

A Christmas message …

When 2020 started, who would have thought it was going to be such a strange year.  Covid-19 has dominated our lives and also the news over the past 10 months or so.

It certainly has made us think about how we do business and how we interact with each other and particularly our loved ones.

However, while we have to deal with the immediacy of the pandemic, for many of the victims we represent, and their families, their lives have been very different for some time. Losing a loved one or suffering from mental and physical injuries through no fault of their own is an everyday issue for them and has been, for some, for many years.

Throughout 2020 the issues that have faced Ulster Human Rights Watch and those they represent have included dealing with individual cases, writing narratives, addressing legacy of the past proposals, supporting the Victims’ Pension Scheme and calling for a public inquiry into the La Mon House atrocity.

July this year saw our campaign in the News Letter share the stories of some victims, highlighting the never-ending effect of the past on their day-to-day lives. It did not make for easy listening and viewing.

As the Christmas break approaches, we wish to thank you all for your contribution, support, help and encouragement over the past year and assure you of our continued support for victims of terrorism in the coming 12 months.

Let’s hope that the much-delayed Victims’ Pension Scheme will finally be implemented in 2021 and that life will be eased somewhat for those who receive it.

We wish you and your families a very happy and peaceful Christmas and best wishes for 2021.

From all at Ulster Human Rights Watch

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