Mr. Chris Hazzard:

I thank Ms Thompson for her comprehensive and thought-provoking testimony, as would be expected. I welcome her comments around the statute of limitations. Recently, myself and some colleagues met with the proposers of that in Westminster. We were alarmed by the extent to which they seemed in a bubble and not to be aware of the process of reconciliation and recovery that is going on in this part of the world so I welcome her comments.

Ms Thompson referred to the unfinished business of peace. I want to ask around what I feel is the unforgotten part, namely gender. There should be a gender lens to all of this, and to transitional justice in particular. There has been a complete failure on the British Government's part and perhaps lip service from the Irish Government to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution, UNSCR 1325. That relates to a gender perspective for transitional justice which puts women at the centre. We know that in post-conflict societies violence against women is often far higher than in any other societies. It is a fact in the North that we have nearly 100 instances of violence against women daily. We know that it is a real issue but the British Government refuses to include the North in its action plan around UNSCR 1325. My analysis of the South is that it only pays lip service to it. To what extent has the commissioner's office engaged with London or Dublin on this issue, and especially around the need for a gender perspective? It is so important.

The justice vacuum was something Ms Thompson touched upon. She mentioned the importance of many institutions which are not in place including the Historical Investigations Unit, HIU, the Historical Enquiries Team, HET and the Institute for Conflict Research, ICR. We now have a moratorium on all police ombudsman reports while we await the outcome of the retired police officers judicial review against the Loughinisland findings and there is the issue of inquests. Victims and survivors are now having to take to the streets in civic peaceful protest. There is a march planned for the end of this month and we expect to see thousands on the streets on this. It is hugely frustrating to a great number of people. Can Ms Thompson comment on this?