On Tuesday 14th December, the Centre for Children’s Rights launched the young people’s report Talking about our Past and Present: The Impacts of Conflict Legacy at St Columb’s Park Derry/Londonderry. The report is based on research conducted by Dr. Siobhan McAlister, Dr. Mary-Louise Corr and Dr. Clare Dwyer from the Centre for Children’s Rights which examined the impacts and legacies of the Troubles/Conflict across generations. Following on from the launch of the main and summary reports ‘It didn’t end in 1998’ in November, the young people’s report has been published in collaboration with Young People’s Advisory Group members from Youth Initiatives and Lifford/Clonleigh Resource Centre, Include Youth.

The report highlights a need to talk about the past and its impact on the present. It also stresses the importance of engaging with, and listening to, young people so that they have a say in how they learn about the past but also in decisions about the future. Indeed, in addressing the launch, the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People Koulla Yiasouma noted that ‘Government must support our children and young people to play a central role in building a peaceful and shared Northern Ireland recognizing that over many years children themselves have acted as human rights defenders’.

The report is designed to be of practical use to young people and those working with and for them and having young people involved in designing the content of the report was crucial. Following a summary of the research findings, the report ends with discussion tasks aimed to assist teachers, youth workers and educators to keep the conversation going, to talk about the past, its impacts and legacies. The tasks are designed to encourage young people to reflect on culture and identity; conflict legacy and transgenerational impacts and dealing with hurt, pain and sadness.

The report can be downloaded here or hard copies can be requested by emailing Mary-Louise: m.corr@qub.ac.uk

Dr Mary-Louise Corr