Human security and casualty counting in Ulster: Towards a peaceful and just solution

Sally Browne

doi:10.13169/jglobfaul.8.2.0219

Abstract

The Troubles have spread heartbreak and misery across Northern Ireland, mainland Britain, and Europe for 50 years, claiming the lives of thousands and victimizing tens of thousands. With each death, physical, and psychological injury there are stories of a father, son, brother, sister, daughter, and mother. Human security encapsulates the lives of these people and examines their experiences front and center, and for the first time this sentiment will be adopted in an academic paper to analyze casualty counting in Northern Ireland. This study demonstrates that the Northern Irish Troubles are not just suitable for casualty recording but are also in desperate need of it, as current casualty recording facilities are inadequate in tackling victimization and providing closure to grief-stricken families. This paper analyzes the theoretical aspects of casualty counting and inspects human rights laws in Northern Ireland, seeking to remedy current issues of victim hierarchies in database inclusions, incomplete timelines, and limited accessibility to records, in order to provide Troubles victims with the recognition and answers they yearn for. The overarching theme of this study is that effective casualty recording is a steppingstone to bridging the community divide in Northern Ireland, bringing accountability and ultimately ending the war.

Highlights

Through adopting a human security approach, this paper aims to build on Browne (2019) and outline how casualty recording is the solution that Troubles victims need to resolve their issues of recognition, whilst informing future recorders on the legislation, methods, and inclusions that are
This has benefits for casualty recording, as incidents of child soldiers, attempted ethnic cleansing, and murder of political opponents could be documented for the purpose of prosecuting human rights abuses from the British Army and paramilitary groups (BBC, 2008)
Northern Ireland has its own definition of victims, those who have witnessed, experienced, or cared for those involved in a conflict-related incident and/or are bereaved as a result of such an incident (UK Government, 2006)

Summary

Introduction

“All wars are fought twice, the first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory” (Nguyen, 2013: 144). Northern Irish republican and loyalist terrorists claim that they engaged in a war, either in an effort to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, or to preserve the province’s “British” ownership (Ginty et al, 2007; Peterkin, 2008; Taylor, 2001) This has benefits for casualty recording, as incidents of child soldiers, attempted ethnic cleansing, and murder of political opponents could be documented for the purpose of prosecuting human rights abuses from the British Army and paramilitary groups (BBC, 2008). Whether the Troubles are classed as conflict, war, or civil unrest, the loss and hurt felt as a result of death or victimization remain

Aims

Conclusion

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