The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

Belfast/Good Friday Agreement an exceptional achievement, not an inevitable outcome of peace.

In its 25th anniversary year, we acknowledge the achievement of those who negotiated and agreed the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland after three decades of conflict. We recognise the considerable leadership and bravery shown, especially by the leaders of the Northern Ireland parties and peacebuilders, including … Read more In its 25th anniversary year, we acknowledge the achievement of those who negotiated and agreed the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland after three decades of conflict. We recognise the considerable leadership and bravery shown, especially by the leaders of the Northern Ireland parties and peacebuilders, including women’s groups, in Northern Ireland, and commend the constructive and determined attitude shown by the leaders of the British and Irish governments. Twenty-five years on, there is a temptation to see the achievement of peace as an inevitable outcome, but while the foundations were laid in the years leading up to 1998, reaching a settlement with broad consensus was far from a foregone conclusion. As we look to the future, we remain mindful of the hard work that was necessary in order to achieve agreement, and of the fact that in the modern media environment, such an outcome might not have been possible. Show less