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The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has warned that Protestants,
particularly those associated with the Orange Institution,
often feel intimidated and undervalued in relation to their
culture.
In a submission to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
strategic plan consultation, Grand Lodge said that there was
a danger that many people would socially exclude themselves
from wider activities due to their perception that their culture
was not respected.
The roots of this situation lay in the inability of some
of those in positions of power and authority to be able to
recognise or respect diversity and each individual's right
to self-expression of their own cultural identity, the submission
said.
"People of the Protestant tradition, especially those
who have an association with the Orange Institution, often
find that many barriers exist for them as they seek to explore
their cultural identity and their relationship to it.
"They often feel threatened if they mention anything
that associates them with the Orange tradition. As they attend
their schools, community, voluntary and sporting clubs on
a weekly basis, many young people feel unable to express their
cultural identity as they may be laughed at or indeed may
be excluded from many of the planned activities," the
submission notes.
The Grand Lodge went on to warn that many Protestants believed
that attempts were being made to gradually take their culture
away from them.
"To be able to encourage people to make a positive contribution
to the community, they need to feel valued as individuals,
in the same way that their cultural identity, and how that
is expressed needs to be protected to enable them to become
confident contributors to the wider community and society
in general," the submission noted.
The Institution is highlighting that it is vitally important
that Government departments and bodies recognise the need
to promote equality of opportunity for all.
The Grand Orange Lodge has encouraged the Human Rights Commission
in any dealings relating to the Loyal Orders to ensure that
any complainants, objectors, protesters, etc, subscribe to
article 11.1 of the European Commission for Human Rights.
"We believe we have been victims of those who do not
believe in our right to freedom of peaceful assembly, which
has caused considerable problems to the Institution and to
Northern Ireland society in the past and present", the
submission states.
The Grand Orange Lodge also highlighted that it would expect,
as the largest Protestant community group in Northern Ireland,
to be invited to be among those to participate in such a round
table body, without prejudice to the issue of a Bill of Rights.
"We welcome the consultation document and efforts to
develop a strong, effective and helpful voice in terms of
human rights issues. We support the concept of human rights,
but believe these rights must be exercised responsibly and
avoidance must be made of efforts to make political gains
through perceived human rights issues.
"The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland would call on the
Commission in any dealings with group or individual complaints
to ensure that those complaining subscribe to the European
Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)," the submission concluded.
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