The Mayor of Derry, Cllr Martin Reilly, at the launch of the Unheard Voices Project in the Rath Mor Centre, Derry, with project participants, and guest speakers. Included are Anne Molloy, Creggan Enterprises, Carol Cunningham, Unheard Voices Project Coordinator, and Winston Patterson, International Fund for Ireland. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography
The unheard voices of women, who have been excluded or feel excluded from the peace process, must be listened to and valued, a new reconciliation group based in Derry said today.
Creggan Enterprises (CE), the promoters of the Unheard Voices Project, said that many working-class women on both sides of the community divide are united in their frustration at the limited space for their views.
CE also warned that no clear peace-building roles exist for these women, even though they very often held the fabric of society together during the Troubles.
The two-year cross-community project encourages underrepresented women from unionist and nationalist traditions to work together to articulate experiences and opinions and resolve difficult issues linked to conflict and division.
It is supported through the International Fund for Ireland’s Peace Impact Programme and delivered by CE.
Speaking at the launch event, ahead of International Women’s Day, Carol Cunningham, Unheard Voices project co-ordinator said women had a crucial role to play in peace building, but their voices needed to be heard by those in power in communities and those making decisions in government.
Anne Molloy, Creggan Enterprises, Carol Cunningham, Unheard Voices Project Coordinator, and Winston Patterson, International Fund for Ireland, at the launch of the Unheard Voices Project at the Rath Mor Centre. Photo Lorcan Doherty Photography
She added: “Unheard Voices promotes inclusion, co-operation and a strong voice for women in the city, particularly in areas where there are urgent social challenges and where complex issues will take longer to resolve.
“If we are to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society, we simply cannot afford to lose women’s voices.”
The International Fund for Ireland awarded £130,799 to the Unheard Voices Project in June 2013 through the Peace Impact Programme (PIP) which focuses on addressing some of the most sensitive, complex and challenging issues within areas where there have been low levels of engagement in peace building.
International Fund for Ireland Board Member, Winston Patterson, said Unheard Voices specifically sought to engage with women who felt excluded, or had chosen to self-exclude, and women’s groups within areas that suffered from multiple-deprivation.
He added: “The reality is that sectarianism, domestic violence, suicide, isolation and disaffection are complex issues that deeply affect communities in this city.
“Tackling perceptions and getting conversations on divisive issues on the table now is crucial and could be pivotal in developing action at times of tension.”
The Unheard Voices Programme will run to June 2015 and engage women and women’s groups that have not previously, or only partially, participated in community development and peace building activities.
It is designed to increased contact, dialogue, sharing and integration within and between communities and support creative and innovative approaches to deal with contentious issues.
It will also build cohesion within and between communities to deliver improved relationships and start collective actions that can encourage more women to become agents of positive social, cohesive, economic and political change.
To find out more about Creggan Enterprises – Unheard Voices Project contact Carol Cunningham on (028) 7137 3170 or email:[email protected] or HYPERLINK “http://www.rathmor.com” www.rathmor.com.
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