Blog Multi Author

CHAIR’S REMARKS

At this juncture in global political affairs and international relations there has never been a greater need across the world for people to work for democracy, reconciliation and peacebuilding. We have seen such efforts blossom over the last 25 years in Northern Ireland/Ireland and I hope that they will continue to bear fruit to reflect unity in diversity in our restored political institutions. Such work can and should be replicated in other parts of our global world.

This compelling imperative fuelled my desire to accept the invitation to join the Board of CDPB in July 2021 and eventually to accept the unanimous support of Board colleagues to take on the mantle of Chairperson of this important organisation. I was replacing Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP who stood down as Chair and still remains a member of the Board. CDPB owe our thanks and gratitude to Sir Jeffrey and his predecessor, Lord John Alderdice who along with other Board members provided strategic direction to ensure that our organisation continues to fulfil our objectives. We have all been ably assisted by Eva Grosman who is our Chief Executive. Eva is a powerhouse and has provided dynamic leadership in these islands in terms of peace-making and democracy. We and the wider community owe Eva an enormous debt of gratitude and heartfelt thanks. I hope to continue to work with Eva and her team to ensure that the objectives of the organisation continue to be fulfilled.

Our democracy and peacebuilding work has been overshadowed by war in Ukraine in 2022. We have all been horrified by the scenes of mass death and destruction which we have witnessed on our television screens on a daily basis since late February. International efforts are required to work with President Zelensky to ensure that peace and democracy is secured and that the Ukrainian people can return to their homeland through a massive re-building programme for peace, prosperity and infrastructure building.

Our work has concentrated in the past year in the following areas: Fellowship programme which involved young people from across Northern Ireland coming together to work on democratic peacebuilding initiatives. This programme will continue to be delivered and sincere thanks are due to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, Irish American Partnership, our corporate partners and our mentors from business and industry for their advice, sponsorship and unfailing direction and guidance.

Other work programmes included the Unite Against Hate which was supported by the Executive Office.

Our international work focuses on engagement with colleagues in Colombia and work led by Lord Alderdice in Jerusalem.

This year also witnessed the appointment of Reeya Gadhvana as our Head of Programmes and we will continue to work with young people and internships – in fact we will be hosting two young women from Harvard in Belfast during the summer.

Notwithstanding the rigours and challenges of the pandemic over the last couple of years, our work has continued and blossomed. That bedrock of support from the wider community including business and industrial representatives is invaluable on so many levels as we continue our mission and fulfil the objectives of CDPB.

CDPB is one of the most inspiring and worthwhile organisations I have worked with, and I hope to continue to work with Eva, Board members and others to fulfil our commitment to democracy and peacebuilding locally and internationally.

Baroness Margaret Ritchie of Downpatrick

Book Launch

Dr Ofrit Liviatan, Harvard University: Anything But Steady

Chaired by Professor Duncan Morrow

• 10th May 2022
• Ulster University, Belfast

Anything But Steady

At 100 years old, Northern Ireland yearns for reinvention. Exasperated that peace hasn’t yet brought reconciliation, she handpicks Ella Goldin, an American PhD student, to set out her true destiny. But is Ella really the right choice for this mighty task? What can a tenacious yet uninitiated Jewish New Yorker, lacking local ties, possibly contribute? Wrestling with the smoke and mirrors of war and peace, Ella is anchored to Northern Ireland first by will, then by academic duress. All the while, Northern Ireland herself can’t keep mum when it comes to surprising revelations, emerging as a storyteller in her own right. The duo’s entwined quest encounters emotional reversals and witty twists, creating the first-ever testimony by (let’s be frank) an unpredictable piece of Earth about her troubled legacy.

About the Author

Dr. Ofrit Liviatan teaches in the Department of Government at Harvard University. Her academic work cultivated this debut novel. Earlier in her career, Ofrit was a lawyer, and she credits that profession for galvanizing her fascination with the power of a good story. Ofrit resides in Lexington, Massachusetts, with her husband and two daughters.

Register HERE.

Unite Against Hate, will today launch a pledge urging the public to challenge, reach out and speak out against hate in Northern Ireland.

People are being encouraged to sign the pledge to show their commitment to tackling prejudice and discrimination in Northern Ireland. This comes as recent PSNI statistics have shown that an average of eight hate crimes or incidents are reported to the police every day across the region, with figures of racist and sectarian incidents rising every year.

Launching today at an event titled “We Are Here”, the Unite Against Hate Pledge has been developed in collaboration with the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME), LGBTQ+, Jewish and other communities from across Northern Ireland. Belfast Lord Mayor Cllr Kate Nicholl will address the event where individuals will discuss their experiences of prejudice, discrimination, and racism here.

The Unite Against Hate pledge opens for signatures online today with the public able to have their name displayed on the pledge wall. The pledge has three key parts, for individuals to challenge their own prejudices, reach out to those from a different community, and speak out and not standing by when others experience discrimination or hate.

The Unite Against Hate campaign delivered by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building Pledge has been supported sponsored by the Executive Office’s Central Good Relations Funding programme. To sign the Pledge, visit: https://uniteagainsthate.org.uk/pledge/

Minister for Justice, Naomi Long MLA, said:

“The most important thing we can do is to challenge the reasons why hate crime occurs. We need to learn to embrace diversity and better understand the challenges that other people face.
“When we see intolerance and prejudice, we need to be confident enough to speak out against it. We need to call people out and challenge them to change their ways. We need to do that in private and we need to do it in public.”
“And that’s why I’m lending my support to this Unite Against Hate campaign because I think that changing attitudes is the most important thing we can do to protect people from hate crime.”

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Kate Nicholl, said:

“I’m proud to have signed the pledge to show my commitment to tackling prejudice and discrimination in Northern Ireland and I encourage everyone to take a moment to add their own signature. There’s absolutely no place for hatred in our society – and it’s up to each and every one of us to take steps to End Hate and Embrace Diversity.”

“I’m passionate about encouraging a more welcoming, kinder Belfast during my term of office and I’m really heartened by the great work that many organisations are doing to help break down stereotypes and combat discrimination. But just imagine what a fantastic place it would be if we all pledged to recognise and address our own prejudices, to reach out and learn from those we see as being different, and to speak out for diversity and inclusion.”

Baroness Margaret Ritchie of Downpatrick, Chair of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building, added:

“Embracing diversity and uniting against hate is crucial in Northern Ireland because we know the consequences of prejudice, discrimination and hatred. We have come far in the last 25 years, and we are beginning to see a rich, diverse, multi-cultural society blossom here.”
“We must embrace and support our minority communities and show them that Northern Ireland has learned from the past, and is now a place where diversity is celebrated, not rejected.”