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Black and white photo of Mo Mowlam, NI Secretary of State, following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement Belfast 1998

1990s

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. It enjoyed broad public support, but negotiations on early prisoner release, disarmament and police reform were difficult.

John Major, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Albert Reynolds, Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, announced the Downing Street Declaration for the future. The negotiations set the tone. The violent acts of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and royalist paramilitary forces are still going on. Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States and visited Northern Ireland in 1995 to support the peace process. In 1997, Tony Blair led the Labour Party to a complete victory as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. At this time, political discussions in Northern Ireland accelerated the progress. 

Key themes

About one-third of the murders in Belfast occur in or near residents' homes. It can be seen that political violence is likely to be highly localized and occur among acquaintances. The threat of violence has a great impact on the community.

About 90% of the dead in the Northern Love issue are men. Although there are also female victims and perpetrators, the impact of conflict on women is often reflected in other aspects.

Image of the signed Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
This Memorandum from the Office of the Independent Chairman was attached to copies of the proposed Final Agreement and has been signed by participants in the talks including John Hume, David Trimble, Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Senator George Mitchell. - Belfast/Good Friday Agreement Memorandum
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement signed by the British and Irish governments and political parties in Northern Ireland
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement signed by the British and Irish governments and political parties in Northern Ireland on 10 April 1998 contained proposals for a power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland, prisoner releases, the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons, police reform and human rights initiatives. This booklet entitled ‘The Agreement – It’s Your Decision’ set out the terms of the agreement and copies were sent to every home in Northern Ireland [and the Republic of Ireland] in advance of the referendum held on 22 May 1998. - The Agreement
Gay Pride T-Shirt 1991
The first Gay Pride march in Belfast took place in 1991 and was attended by approximately 100 people. There was little funding, or support from spectators, but the march from the University of Ulster to Botanic Gardens went ahead and began to increase the visibility of the local LGBT community. Since then Belfast Pride has grown into a festival of events attended by thousands. - Gay Pride T-Shirt
Image of the signed Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
This Memorandum from the Office of the Independent Chairman was attached to copies of the proposed Final Agreement and has been signed by participants in the talks including John Hume, David Trimble, Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Senator George Mitchell. - Belfast/Good Friday Agreement Memorandum