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A Forum is being held in Dundalk this weekend to give people an opportunity to discuss key issues impacting their community, and to work collectively to find practical solutions to address important areas of peace and wellbeing.
It forms part of a new civic movement to give citizens a voice on key issues. Recommendations developed through the Civic Initiative will be delivered to the Irish and British governments as well as the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Cross-border People’s Forum for a citizen-led review of Belfast/Good Friday Agreement Rights is part of an 18-month citizen-led review of key socioeconomic rights and commitments under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement including housing, healthcare, education, political institutions, human rights, poverty, rural access, and culture across Northern Ireland and border counties with a view to finding pathways forward.
Forums have already been held in Newry, Armagh and Derry and the Dundalk event takes place this Saturday January 27 at 9.30am at the Wellington Hall, St. Mary's Road, Dundalk, A91 XH21. Residents in Newry, Dundalk, Drogheda, and surrounding areas are encouraged to attend.
Les Allamby, the former Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, and the Independent Chair of the Civic Initiative said, “The Civic Initiative is an ambitious project that brings together a wide-range of civic society organisations to create a much-needed space for deliberative dialogue on key issues. This is an expansive and inclusive space for people across Northern Ireland and border counties to have voice on issues impacting their lives, and importantly, to look for practical solutions that recognise the circumstances facing communities.”
The Civic Initiative project has four key stages;
- Regionals forums and workshops in the Northwest, Fermanagh/Cavan area, Mid Ulster, Northern, Greater Belfast, and Armagh/Monaghan areas.
- A submissions portal for expert evidence and civic viewpoints on key issues
- A People’s Forum of 100 randomly selected Northern Ireland citizens
- A report with citizen-led recommendations to advance and support peace, reconciliation, and wellbeing to be delivered to the Irish and British government, as well as Stormont.
You can register at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk The Initiative provides financial support towards travel costs. The forum is a three-hour facilitated deliberative dialogue, refreshments are provided.
