Emma de Souza
Activist / Author / Founder of the Civic Initiative / Peacebuilder
Credit: PressEye
Emma was born in Magherafelt, County Derry, however she spent several of her early years in both Germany and Cyprus where her father was stationed as a member of the British army. Returning to Northern Ireland aged 8 Emma grew up in a multi-faith home whereby she and her siblings were given the space and freedom to establish their own sense of identity; while Emma identifies as Irish, she has siblings who consider themselves British, Northern Irish, and European. Emma spent several years living in New Zealand, and in 2014 she met Jake DeSouza, a musician from Los Angeles, California. The couple visited Northern Ireland in early 2015 and decided to start their married life there.
Jake and Emma outside court. Credit: Colm Lenaghan/ Pacemaker
Shortly after their marriage that year, Emma applied to the Home Office for a residence card for Jake so that he could remain in Northern Ireland, however this was rejected because while she had applied as an Irish citizen, they considered her a British citizen. She was told that ‘she could reapply, identifying as British or, alternatively, renounce her British citizenship and reapply as an Irish citizen.’ But as an Irish citizen, who had only ever held an Irish passport, Emma ‘refused to renounce her British citizenship (or apply as a British citizen) as she [didn’t] consider herself to be British’ and never had. ‘The Good Friday Agreement gives the people of Northern Ireland an explicit right to identify and be accepted as Irish or British or both, as they so choose. The British Government’s position is out of step with this commitment and its nationality laws are inconsistent with both the letter and the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement,’ Emma argued, as she proceeded with what would be a lengthy court challenge against the British Home Secretary.
Initially, a tribunal found in favour of Emma, however when the Home Office appealed, the first ruling was overturned in 2020. Despite this, the UK Home Office made a significant concession, changing UK immigration rules to align with the Good Friday Agreement. The changes were announced two weeks before the case was due to be heard before the UK Court of Appeal and as a result, Jake was granted leave to remain in Northern Ireland, and a route for a ‘person of Northern Ireland’, defined as an Irish, British, or a dual Irish and British citizen, was inserted into UK immigration law. These changes enabled families across Northern Ireland to access EU family reunification rights, whether they identified as Irish, or British, or both. Emma withdrew the remaining appeals as the basic foundation of her legal challenge had been removed. Even though she could not continue in court, she was successful in ‘reaffirm[ing] the identity and citizenship provisions of the Good Friday Agreement by securing legislative changes to domestic UK immigration law,’ a change that was welcomed by then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Emma did not have a campaigning or activist background, and has often spoken of the challenge in becoming politically active in order to effectively campaign for change. During the five year court case she successfully secured support from the majority of Northern Ireland’s political parties, the Irish Government, the Labour party and SNP, the European Commission, and members of the US house of Congress on both sides of the House.
Ever since, Emma has not stopped campaigning for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. In 2021 (and again in 2022) as Women’s Leadership Coordinator at the National Women’s Council, she took on the role of Chairperson of the newly-established All-Island Women’s Forum which ‘aims to address underrepresentation of women and further develop women’s role in peacebuilding and civic society.’ The Forum is made up of 28 participants - 14 from the North and 14 from the South with a view to ‘support building sustainable North South links, provide a space for marginalised communities, and build better understanding and inter-community links.’
All-island Women's Forum Credit: Niall Carson/PA
‘There is empirical data to support the benefit of women’s voices in peacebuilding. Evidence demonstrates that women in peace processes are more likely to focus on reconciliation, economic development, and transitional justice – all critical elements of a sustained peace.’ - Emma DeSouza
Credit: Allan Leonard
In early 2023, Emma founded The Civil Initiative - a platform upon which a range of civic society organisations can come together to ‘work collectively to progress peace and reconciliation in the North.’ The goal of the Initiative is to ‘create the space for individuals and organisations to examine key challenges and make proposals on policy positions that advance peace, reconciliation, and wellbeing in Northern Ireland.’
‘...Peace has not been felt evenly across Northern Ireland, with many areas remaining disadvantaged and marginalised. [...] The 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement presents us with an opportunity to critically analyse and support the advancement of peace, reconciliation, and well-being, by ensuring the agency and ownership of people and communities on proposals for progressive social change…’ - Emma DeSouza
Emma at Ulster University during the GFA 25th anniversary speech given by President Joe Biden
During the marking of the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in Washington DC in March 2023, Emma was recognised as a ‘next generation leader in peacebuilding’ and indeed throughout the course of the 25th anniversary period, was a regular contributor to discussions and publications regarding peace and the Good Friday Agreement itself. Since 2020 she has been a regular contributor to the opinion pages of the Irish Times and writes for other publications including The Irish Examiner, Byline Times, The Guardian and Open Democracy.
At the Ireland Funds Gala in Washington DC, File picture: Niall Carson/PA
Looking forward, Emma is working on her first book ‘on the power of civil rights movements and how individuals can challenge the state and change the law.’ Emma often speaks of the power and agency that individuals have in effecting change, reflected in her own story. The book seeks to outline the underreported stories of change across several countries including the United Kingdom and United States and will set out a series of tools for the reader to tap into their own agency and build effective change.
Thank you to Emma for working with us on this bio and for providing photos. Bio by Katelyn Hanna.
Sources:
‘Emma De Souza Takes Her Case to the United States,’ on ias, online at: https://ie.iasservices.org.uk/emma-de-souza-takes-her-case-to-the-united-states/ [accessed 14 April 2023].
‘Emma deSouza,’ on openDemocracy, online at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/author/emma-desouza/[accessed 14 April 2023].
The Irish Times, 26 May 2020.
‘National Women’s Council Announces All-Island Women’s Forum Members,’ on NWC, online at: https://www.nwci.ie/learn/article/national_womens_council_announces_all_island_womens_forum_members [accessed 14 April 2023].
Audley, Fiona, ‘Civic society platform launched ahead of 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement,’ on The Irish Post, onine at: https://www.irishpost.com/news/civic-society-platform-launched-ahead-of-25th-anniversary-of-good-friday-agreement-247993 [accessed 14 April 2023].
‘Irish Taoiseach, Hillary Clinton spotlight women’s role in Northern Ireland’s peace process on 25th Anniversary,’ on GIWPS, online at: https://giwps.georgetown.edu/event/women-at-the-helm-the-unfinished-business-of-northern-irelands-good-friday-agreement/ [accessed 14 April 2023].
DeSouza, Emma, ‘Northern Ireland’s Civic Initiative,’ on Queen’s University Belfast, online at: https://www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI/mitchell-institute/news/27022023-CivicInitiative.html [accessed 14 April 2023].
EU citizenship rule takes effect after Northern Ireland woman’s battle online at: EU citizenship rule takes effect after Northern Ireland woman’s battle | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk [accessed 23 April 2023].