Reconciliation

Reconciliation remains central to the vision of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, whose multi‑party negotiators affirmed that lasting peace in Northern Ireland depended not only on strong political structures but on honouring those who suffered “the tragedies of the past” by “dedicating ourselves to the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance, and mutual trust, and to the protection … Show more

Reconciliation remains central to the vision of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, whose multi‑party negotiators affirmed that lasting peace in Northern Ireland depended not only on strong political structures but on honouring those who suffered “the tragedies of the past” by “dedicating ourselves to the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance, and mutual trust, and to the protection and vindication of the human rights of all. ( The Belfast Agreement - GOV.UK , p.1) Almost 30 years later, however, reconciliation remains one of the most complex aspects of the peace process. Following our inquiry into the legacy of the past, we have agreed to examine societal reconciliation in greater depth, recognising the significance of reconciliation both within and, crucially, beyond the framework of legacy legislation. Read our call for evidence here for more detail about the inquiry and how to contribute your views. Show less