Are We There Yet? Day of Reflection Proposal
Wider support for the 21st June to be annually marked as a Day for Reflection on the impact and effect of the conflict in and about Northern Ireland.
In 2014, Healing Through Remembering published the Are We There Yet? report, which outlines our proposals on each of these themes based on our reflective engagement, experience and work in this area over the previous 14 years.
Day of Reflection is one of a set of proposals on dealing with the past relating to the conflict in and about Northern Ireland. Healing Through Remembering believes these proposals would be best implemented as a comprehensive response to ensure that a range of complex but interrelated needs are met. Click on the report image to the right for the full Day of Reflection recommendation, or visit the Day of Reflection page to learn more.
Original 2002 Recommendation
We recommend an annual ‘Day of Reflection’ be established. The day will serve as a universal gesture of reconciliation, reflection, acknowledgement and recognition of the suffering of so many arising from the conflict in and about Northern Ireland.
The specific purposes of the Day of Reflection would be to:
- Allow the people of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain an opportunity to remember all those who have been adversely affected by the conflict in and about Northern Ireland;
- Learn lessons arising from that conflict;
- Provide an opportunity for people to remember the events of the past in a non-confrontational, dignified and respectful manner;
- Provide society with an occasion to acknowledge and recognise the suffering of so many arising from the conflict in and about Northern Ireland;
- Initially be a day for private individual reflection, but develop towards ensuring a collective and public dimension whereupon many—sometimes from opposing perspectives—would be remembered and commemorated on the same day; and,
- Undertake peace building, contemplative reflection and community relations’ activities and events. Respectful and collective commemorative projects could be co-ordinated in every Local Council area throughout the islands.