Speaking at UPC AGM, Claire Hackett, Research Co-ordinator of the Belfast Conflict Resolution Consortium and member of the Board of Healing Through Remembering, stressed the need to address the legacy of the past to enable us to build a society based on trust and respect.

Claire welcomed the focus on this issue brought by the work of the Consultative Group on the Past, chaired by Lord Robin Eames and Denis Bradley. She commented, “International experience tells us that the past doesn’t go away.  We need to work through the past in order to create the future.  In particular we need to acknowledge, remember and deal with the legacy of the conflict in order to support the transition to a just and peaceful society.”

Johnston Price, Director of UPC, referred to the important work the College had carried out in the past building relationships and creating opportunities for individuals and groups to critically reflect on society and develop political alternatives. 

He commented, “It is ironic that at a time when Northern Ireland desperately needs to come to terms with the legacy of the past organisations such as UPC are struggling to find support for their work in an environment where the only role for education is seen to be promoting economic growth.

“This ignores the obvious lesson that it was the peace process, more than any other single factor, that kick started social and economic development in the North of Ireland in the 90’s.  And it also ignores the key role that education has to play in developing a rich and diverse society based on active citizens who value and promote fairness and justice.”

Over the past 26 years the UPC, through its community relations work and its People’s History Initiative, has developed innovative approaches to supporting communities to explore their own past and engage with others’ understanding of the past.