Peace Network

What are its aims and objectives?

Aim

To communicate the experience of managing, implementing and evaluating EU PEACE funding in Northern Ireland and Border Region of Ireland thereby enabling participants to learn, exchange and transfer knowledge relevant to their various policy needs. 

Objectives

The Peace Network has three key objectives to:

• Analyse and examine the unique experience of using EU funding to manage cross-community reconciliation initiatives
• Communicate impacts and lessons learnt and to disseminate good practice to other regions across Europe
• Outline the role of organisations at local level in supporting successful peace building and reconciliation policies

How is it managed?

The SEUPB is the Secretariat of the Peace Network. The role of the Secretariat is to:

• Collate and make available all documentation in relation to the PEACE Programmes
• Act as a first point of contact / providing an interface for all exchanges of information on the Network
• Organise Meetings and Events
• Document and evaluate the progress of the Network
• Participate in Working Groups
• Financial Management

What does the Peace Network do?

The main activities of the Network are carried out through working groups drawn from the membership of the Network. In each module one specific issue drawn from the experience of Special EU funding in Northern Ireland and the Border Region relevant to promoting peace and reconciliation at local level will be examined.

It is recognised that there is no single or agreed experience of the Special EU PEACE funding. All perspectives on the issue can be presented.

Modules will include:

• Use of EU Funding for peace building
• Community-based approaches to peace building and reconciliation through social integration, inclusion and local strategies
• PEACE funding for children and young people
• Reconciling communities – building positive relationships in divided societies
• Acknowledging and dealing with the past (victims, survivors, ex-prisoners)
• The effect of conflict on children and young people
• Building capacity in marginalised communities
• Examining the bottom up approach to peace and reconciliation
• Creating shared public and social space in divided or multicultural societies
• Models of cross-community co-operation for regeneration and growth
• Managing cultural and ethnic diversity
• Accommodating new migrant communities
• Delivering policy and public services in divided and/or multicultural societies
• The role of women in peace building
• Education in divided societies

The Peace Network is involved in a range of activities, as detailed below:

• Working Groups
• Events
• Meetings