Reverend Karen Sethuraman:

I thank the Chair and members of the committee for their kind invitation to address them today. I am the first and only female Baptist minister on the island of Ireland. I was born into a Protestant unionist family and grew up in east Belfast, raised by a single mum. For more than 20 years, I have been involved in peace and reconciliation work both within and outside the church walls. I currently lead SoulSpace, a peace and reconciliation hub created for those who feel they do not fit within the institutional church. We are currently in partnership with other faith organisations across the UK. My work has involved providing pastoral care to the community, establishing a space for LGBT+ people of faith, engaging in interfaith initiatives, serving as a chaplain to two Belfast Lord Mayors, promoting gender equality, and so on. Additionally, I serve on the management board of Ireland’s Future.

One of the greatest privileges of pastoral ministry for me is listening to the stories of women from diverse backgrounds and communities across our island. These have included stories of pain, grief and joy, brokenness and healing, inclusion and exclusion, division, sectarianism and the effects of partition. Everyone has a story and women's voices - our narratives, experiences and perspectives - are essential in any decision-making process. I was stunned to read a recent report released by the Northern Ireland Executive Office on violence against women. The report stated that almost 98% of the women surveyed experienced at least one form of violence or abuse in their lifetime. Furthermore, half of those experienced at least one form of violence or abuse before they were 11 years old. Since 2020, it has been reported that more than 20 women have been murdered in Northern Ireland. The North of Ireland is not a safe place for women. We are a society struggling with the effects of intergenerational trauma. I have witnessed and journeyed this at first hand with many women. It is essential for us to strive for a new Ireland that aims to heal the woundedness experienced by our women, addressing the obstacles to their full participation. I want a society that is fair, equal and safe for all of us. In order to create a new and united Ireland that serves everyone, it is crucial to include the voices of women who have been marginalised and silenced.

Irish history features narratives of women paving the way for change throughout our island. Since the 1800s, women have been uniting to advocate for their civil rights and challenge laws that limit their freedoms. One of the earliest women’s peace groups that grabbed my attention was Women Together, formed in 1970 by Ruth Agnew, a Protestant, and Monica Patterson, a Catholic from England. Together, they exemplified a sense of togetherness with the focus and aim of working for the betterment of their communities.

The conversations concerning Irish unity are growing and unstoppable, and I have often stated that we are not complete without our Protestant and unionist neighbours. I am deeply committed to ensuring that all women, including women from our PUL community, are included in this conversation about constitutional change, as their involvement can unlock the potential for progress and offer hope to communities that often feel overlooked. The women I have spoken to often ask me, if there is to be a new Ireland, how it will impact their families and their daily lives. This highlights how planning and preparation are crucial, and it is time we begin offering our communities the necessary details.

I extend my thanks to the joint committee for all the work and discussions it has undertaken regarding constitutional change. I appreciate its outreach, the hand of friendship and welcome it has extended, as well as its openness and willingness to listen and engage in these important conversations. Going forward, I believe that all political parties advocating for a new and united Ireland should prioritise Irish unity at the core of their election manifestos. Additionally, a focused effort is needed to establish an Oireachtas committee dedicated to Irish unity. Someone once said, "If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." I do not want any woman to feel she needs to bring a folding chair to this discussion on constitutional change. Instead, I want to ensure her seat at the table is guaranteed. There is a distinct strength when women from diverse backgrounds unite to drive change and we must do the same today.