Press Release

£ 5M Action Plan Submitted

Monday, 28 April 2008

The North West Interim Peace & Reconciliation Partnership today submitted an action plan for £5million of EU funding, under Priority 1.1 of the Peace III Programme, to the Special EU Programmes Body for approval. The action plan is specifically designed to address six strategic priorities in the partnership areas of Derry City Council, Omagh District Council and Strabane District Council over the next three years.

The Acting Chair of the Interim Partnership, Mr Philip Faithfull, Chief Executive of Strabane District Council, explained: “The Peace III Programme has a renewed emphasis on peace-building. It specifically focuses on: acknowledging and dealing with the conflict, building positive relations and contributing to a shared society. Derry, Strabane and Omagh District Council areas have ‘clustered’ together to define and address the unique priorities of the North West Region. We have developed a strategic, multi-agency approach to address our priorities which have been endorsed at a regional consultation event. This action plan offers a real opportunity to build positive relations and tackle sectarianism and racism within the partner areas”.

Alderman Drew Thompson, Mayor of Derry City Council commended the Interim Partnership “It is an excellent example of our social partners, elected members and statutory agencies working together across the three Council areas, and the Peace III action plan will also provide the opportunity for the Partnership to work on cross border initiatives to challenge sectarian and racial prejudice.”

Cllr Bert Wilson, Chairman of Omagh District Council, also welcomed the action plan saying “The Councils, with the help of the Local Strategy Partnerships, have successfully established the Interim NW Peace & Reconciliation Partnership which will work to ensure that Peace III funding will be used to build positive relationships at local level. It will also seek to challenge attitudes towards sectarianism and racism and tackle conflict resolution and mediation”.

Oonagh McGillion, Derry City Council, Lead Partner in the NW Cluster advised that “By delivering programmes and initiatives that will encourage the acceptance of cultural identities and inclusive celebration, influencing young people’s attitudes at an early stage and including those who have been most affected and marginalised, the Interim Partnership hopes to promote a greater understanding and respect for one’s own and each other’s heritage and culture, and promote the shared use of our local facilities.”

She added ‘By promoting the inclusion of ethnic minorities and those who have been marginalised it is hoped to promote a shared sense of belonging and community for all members of our community and an acceptance of multi-culturalism’.

Mr Faithfull concluded; “Peace III funding is limited and it is not an extension of the Peace I and II Programmes. The partnership is keen to take peace building to the next level by developing new projects and progressing the existing good work already underway. We are particularly keen to engage those who have been marginalised or excluded from the process up until now.”

Copies of the NW Peace III Action Plan Executive Summary are available from the Local Strategy Partnership, Derry City Council Offices, 98 Strand Road, Derry-Londonderry-Doire, paul.mcphillips@derrycity.gov.uk, tel: 028 7130 8466.

Ends

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