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06 January 2009

Truce or Transformation

The Annual Review seeks to draw lessons from community relations work since 2007. Although acknowledging the positive imagery of partnership in government  the Review questions the commitment to challenging the deep divisions and polarisation in Northern Ireland. The continued absence of the new government policy on Cohesion, Sharing and Integration which was to replace ‘A Shared Future’ is regretted. ‘The challenge of the establishment of agreed political institutions,’ according to Duncan Morrow, ‘is whether this is another truce or a step towards transformation.’

Last year the Council supported 705 community relations projects with funding from OFMDFM, Peace II and IFI.  In partnership with others it has also helped to develop pilot programmes in shared housing and shared education.  It also supported local planning projects in Belfast and Derry to develop shared public spaces.  According to Duncan Morrow ‘these projects demonstrate that change towards a shared society is not only desirable but plausible.’

To download the report click here.