Mrs Long said the ongoing Good Relations Week, which finishes today (Sunday), was a perfect example of the need for further work needed to unite our community, and encouraged people to participate in the public PfG consultation in order to make their views known.
This year, Good Relations Week has a theme this year of OpportUNITY – a call for people to unite and help bring change to our society, creating a society where every voice matters. The draft PfG contains three ‘pillars’ - people, prosperity and planet – which underpins its work. However, Mrs Long said a fourth pillar – peace – should be added, in order to put more of a focus on reconciliation, diversity and inclusion throughout the entire PfG.
“The recent publication of the draft PfG is a welcome move and I once again urge all the people of Northern Ireland to participate in the consultation in order to submit their views on it, especially given Good Relations Week” she said.
“We have seen this past summer civil unrest and instability, which as well as affecting those targeted, is a firm barrier to economic growth and progress. It showed once again the cost of division in our society, both directly and indirectly, is significant and especially in the current financial situation, completely unsustainable.
“Building peace and tackling sectarianism and paramilitarism have a significant role to play right across our community. Alliance Ministers have been committed to advancing policies in our Departments which have these qualities embedded throughout, however, often they have been blocked by other parties. Having peace as a separate mission in the PfG would allow us to prioritise peace-building and make it an Executive-wide commitment.
“Not only would it enhance delivery of the other three pillars but would put a focus on being able to prioritise some of the issues holding back our society, including paramilitarism, sectarianism, racism, separated housing and education.
“Good Relations Week shows us the importance of strong relationship-building. Lets use the PfG as an opportunity to do just that.”