PRIORITISING PEACE AND RECONCILIATION
The Peace Summit Partnership, Peace Guardians Network, and Youth Network for Peace welcome the return of the Northern Ireland Executive and stress the paramount importance of placing peace and reconciliation at the forefront of the government agenda.
The Peace Summit Report, ‘The Unfinished Business of Peace and Reconciliation – A Call to Action’[1], launched in May 2023, highlights the urgent need to reignite our stalled peace process. It reflects extensive consultations with over 800 peace builders, local communities, and young people across Northern Ireland and the border counties. These consultations underscore the need for decisive action to address the ongoing challenges in our society.
The report has two parts. Firstly, it outlines thematic concerns 25 years after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Consultees told us that political volatility, lack of meaningful civic engagement in politics by ordinary citizens, the negative impact of paramilitarism, segregation in education and housing, poor mental health and an unequal economic peace dividend, as well as the plight of victims and survivors, continue to erode our collective progress, fuelling social unrest and economic fragility. Secondly, the report lists ‘calls to action’ highlighting that failure to address these issues risks perpetuating segregation and exacerbating social, economic, and political instability within our society.
The absence of an Executive has allowed division and sectarianism to become more entrenched, threatening social cohesion and our international reputation as a successful peace process. The Executive must heed the lessons of the past, act decisively, and commit fully to addressing the unfinished business of peace and reconciliation and political parties must acknowledge their significant role in achieving reconciliation. Positive leadership and consistent example-setting are essential.
Reconciliation does not automatically ensue from peace. Despite decades of peace, reconciliation remains elusive. We must prioritise reconciliation to avoid revisiting the same issues for future generations. At the heart of societal progress are new policies aimed at amplifying the civic voice, fostering open dialogue, and promoting civic education and engagement. Democracy extends beyond elections and political mandates; it encompasses active civic participation and participatory governance.
By listening to the concerns and aspirations of all citizens, including young people, new communities, women, and other marginalised groups, the Executive can build trust, be accountable, and ensure that policies are responsive to the needs of all the society it serves.
The Peace Summit Partnership, Peace Guardians Network, and Youth Network for Peace stand ready to support strong and ethical leadership and to monitor the Executive’s delivery of the peace process as it enters this next phase.
We urge the Executive to capitalise on this moment to develop an inclusive peace and reconciliation strategy and to integrate these principles as the foundation stone of a Programme for Government. These efforts must address the challenges of reconciliation comprehensively and inclusively, while dismantling division, promoting political stability, and cultivating opportunities for all citizens.
Our collective future hinges upon our ability to prioritise peace and reconciliation, ensuring a society where all voices are heard and all communities thrive.
Signed by:
Peace Summit Partnership:
Dympna McGlade – Community Dialogue
Tim Attwood – John and Pat Hume Foundation
Dawn Purvis – Chair John and Pat Hume Foundation
Collette Cassidy – John and Pat Hume Foundation
Brandon Hamber – Ulster University
Eliz McArdle – Ulster University
Duncan Morrow – Ulster University
Martin McMullan – YouthAction NI
Gerard Deane – Holywell Trust
David Holloway – Community Dialogue
Jim O’Neill – Community Dialogue
Aoife Smith – Community Dialogue
Caoimhin McNulty – Community Dialogue and Mental Health Movement
Paul Caskey – Integrated Education Fund
Naoimh McNamee – The Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation
Joan O’Flynn – The Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation
Peace Guardians:
Robin Wilson
Anne Carr
Denis Bradley
Eileen Weir – Greater North Belfast Women’s Network (GNBWN)
Carolyn Moffett
Frank Gaffikin
Brice Dickson
Paul Nolan
Brian Lennon
Katy Radford
Linda Irvine
Colin Flinn
Neil Jarman
Avila Kilmurray
Tony Macaulay
Patricia O’Neill
David Adams
Brigid Loughran
Tom Gillen
Bertie Ahern
Eileen Bell
Youth Network for Peace:
Catriona Coyle – Londonderry YMCA.
Corinna Crooks – Cooperation Ireland
Ryan Cuddy – Cooperation Ireland
Natalie Corbett – NIYF
Arón Hughes – NIYF
[1] Peace Summit A Call to Action 24 May 2023 with Cover (humefoundation.org)