Emma DeSouza is an Irish writer,[1] political commentator,[2] campaigner[3] and peacebuilder.[4] She has been published in HuffPost UK,[5] the Business Post,[6] The Guardian,[7] Euronews,[8] TheJournal.ie,[9] the Irish Examiner,[7] The Irish Times,[10] The Irish News,[11] Open Democracy,[12] and Byline Times.

Family reunion law case

DeSouza took forward a lengthy court challenge against the British Home Secretary over her right under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement to be accepted as an Irish citizen for the purposes of European Union family reunion rights with her American husband, Jake.[13][lower-alpha 1] DeSouza was born in Magherafelt, County Londonderry and thus legally a British citizen.[13] DeSouza argued that she had always identified as an Irish citizen (as is her right under the Agreement) and had only ever held an Irish passport (and never a British one). The Home Office declared that she must either reapply as a British citizen or renounce her British citizenship.[14] A "First Tier" immigration tribunal found in her favour but the "Upper Tribunal" overturned that decision when the Home Office appealed.[13] Nevertheless, the Home Office granted Jake leave to remain, albeit without formally conceding her case and Mrs DeSouza withdrew her court appeal, stating that the concession from the Home Office had removed the foundation for their legal challenge, "Therefore, we have been left with no other option but to withdraw our application to appeal."[15]

The case resulted in a temporary concession by the British Home Office to allow citizens in Northern Ireland to bring in foreign-born partners under the EU family status regulations as a 'person of Northern Ireland', defined as an 'Irish citizen, British citizen, or dual British and Irish citizen.' Immigration solicitor Una Boyd stated that, "The impact of these changes on families who would otherwise be separated by the UK Immigration Rules can’t be overstated."[16] This result, although time-limited, was cited as a significant victory for DeSouza. Following the case, DeSouza withdrew her pending court appeal stating that the changes "forced through by our case will now allow Jake to remain in the United Kingdom on the basis of my Irish citizenship and require the Home Office to respect my right under the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement to be accepted as Irish."[17]

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar[18] singled out DeSouza for praise during an address to an audience in Washington, D.C., which included U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, at the National Building Museum.

Career

DeSouza's other campaign work includes voting rights for Irish citizens abroad[19] and campaigning for full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.[20] In 2021 she led in creating the All-island Women's Forum within the National Women's Council of Ireland, acting as Chair and Facilitator for 2021 and 2022.[21] DeSouza said, "The appetite for meaningful structures to provide greater engagement and understanding on this island is evident from the overwhelming interest we have received in the formation of this forum."[22] The Forum operates as a cross-border peacebuilding structure.

DeSouza was one of several high profile[11] people targeted by the columnist Eoghan Harris under his anonymous Twitter account Barbara J. Pym.[23] According to DeSouza, "Much of the abuse was levied at Northern Ireland nationalists, or those deemed nationalists by Harris".[24]

DeSouza ran as an independent candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone at the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election. She said she believed the election had the potential to significantly disrupt the status quo of Northern politics and that "[k]ey to that change will be independent voices unafraid to join the growing demographic of 'others' not content being shuffled into outdated political movements with partisan ideals".[25] She received 249 votes and was eliminated on the first count.[26]

In 2023 DeSouza founded a new Civic-led participatory structure ahead of 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The Civic Initiative[27] brings together a wide-range of civic society groups to work in advancing peace, reconciliation and well-being in Northern Ireland. Announcing the Initiative DeSouza said, : "Communities across Northern Ireland have never lacked ideas, but we are concerned at the lack of structure and framework necessary to harness those ideas – the Civic Initiative aims to provide such a structure."[28]

In March 2023 DeSouza spoke at a high-profile conference in Washington DC alongside Secretary Hillary Clinton, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, former President Mary Robinson and others. DeSouza was introduced as a next generation leader in peacebuilding and spoke of a need to refocus on implementing the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.[29]

Notes

  1. ↑ In British law as it stood, this meant that her husband was subject to conditions for "indefinite leave to remain" that did not apply to Irish citizens resident in the United Kingdom.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Peace babies may deliver surprise in Northern Assembly election". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Walsh, David (3 May 2021). "With unionism in turmoil, is now the time for a united Ireland?". Euronews.
  3. ↑ "'Hierarchy of Irishness' to be raised at citizenship conference". ITV News. 15 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Women's voices must be centred in peacebuilding, forum says". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  5. ↑ DeSouza, Emma (5 March 2021). "Opinion: The Good Friday Agreement Protected My Generation. We Can't Lose It To Brexit". HuffPost UK.
  6. ↑ DeSouza, Emma (1 July 2020). "Comment: Without a senator from Northern Ireland the promise of a shared island rings hollow". Business Post.
  7. 1 2 DeSouza, Emma (6 May 2019). "It is not up to the UK government to decide whether I'm Irish or not". The Guardian.
  8. ↑ DeSouza, Emma (4 November 2019). "I'm not British. I was born Irish. It's simply who I am and no court will tell me otherwise ǀ View". Euronews.
  9. ↑ DeSouza, Emma (26 December 2020). "Opinion: Teaching children digital literacy is a must if we are to combat misinformation". TheJournal.ie.
  10. ↑ DeSouza, Emma (20 April 2021). "Emma DeSouza: Want to keep the peace in the North? Elect more women". The Irish Times.
  11. 1 2 Simpson, Claire (7 May 2021). "Journalist Aoife Moore had to have counselling after trolling from Eoghan Harris-linked Twitter account". The Irish News.
  12. ↑ "Political paralysis in NI: power-sharing rules must change". openDemocracy. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Carswell, Simon (15 October 2019). "Explainer: What is the Emma DeSouza case about?". The Irish Times.
  14. ↑ McCormack, Jayne (14 May 2020). "Emma DeSouza: Home Office 'concession' over NI immigration rules". BBC News.
  15. ↑ Staines, Michael. "Emma DeSouza withdraws case after UK recognises her Irish identity". Newstalk. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  16. ↑ Boyd, Una (21 May 2020). "People born in Northern Ireland get improved family reunion rights". Free Movement. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  17. ↑ McClements, Freya (21 May 2020). "Emma DeSouza withdraws immigration case after British government concession". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  18. ↑ Black, Rebecca; PA (12 March 2020). "DeSouza campaign over Irish citizenship receives 'warm welcome' in Washington DC". Belfast Telegraph.
  19. ↑ Lynch, Suzanne (22 July 2020). "Emma de Souza was appointed vice-chairwoman of voting rights body". The Irish Times.
  20. ↑ O'Shea, Kerry (21 April 2021). "Good Friday Agreement: New online resource presents full text with video explainers". Irish Central.
  21. ↑ All-Island Women's Forum https://www.nwci.ie/learn/article/all_island_womens_forum
  22. ↑ "Members appointed to new all-Ireland women's forum". The Irish News. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  23. ↑ McConnell, Daniel (7 May 2021). "Eoghan Harris Twitter accounts banned for violating rules on 'manipulation and spam'". Irish Examiner.
  24. ↑ McCarthy, Justine; Tighe, Mark (16 May 2021). "Nine take legal action against Twitter attacks linked to Eoghan Harris". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 July 2021. DeSouza sued the Home Office in 2015 to assert the right of people in Northern Ireland to be considered Irish from birth, under the Good Friday agreement. She had applied for a residence card for her husband from California using her Irish passport. The application was rejected on the basis that she should have applied as a British citizen. She dropped the case after the UK government amended its legislation.
  25. ↑ McClements, Freya (11 March 2022). "Emma DeSouza to run as 'independent voice' in NI Assembly elections". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  26. ↑ McGovern, Eimear (12 May 2022). "Emma DeSouza: I was told I was 'getting above myself' in Northern Ireland election Stormont campaign" – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  27. ↑ "News | 27.02.2023 – Civic Initiative | Research | Queen's University Belfast". www.qub.ac.uk. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  28. ↑ Audley, Fiona. "Civic society platform launched ahead of 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement". The Irish Post. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  29. ↑ "Irish Taoiseach, Hillary Clinton spotlight women's role in Northern Ireland's peace process on 25th Anniversary". GIWPS. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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