Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Good Friday Agreement is built on the European Convention on Human Rights. All through the document, the signatories and co-guarantors refer to human rights, equality and justice as the foundations that would move society away from conflict and sustain a lasting peace. Sadly, the Good Friday Agreement did not reconcile with the past or engage with the rights of victims and survivors. However, as we have seen, the human rights landscape transformation that occurred has benefited many bereaved families and some of the injured, although it has not been enough. Repeatedly, we have heard during events to mark this most important of anniversaries that this is the outstanding work based on the Good Friday Agreement.

Victims and survivors were asked to park their rights in the interest of the greater good of securing peace. As the constituency that saw the worst of the conflict and understood best the importance of peace, they did so. However, their generosity has not been repaid. Victims and survivors have been treated disgracefully over the past 25 years, experiencing everything from being told to draw a line under the past to being promised the Stormont House Agreement only to see it reneged upon. The British Government's legacy Bill is the final ignominy and insult for those who deserve so much better. For this anniversary not to be remembered as another lost opportunity, victims' and survivors' rights must be put to the top of the intergovernmental agenda, and firm proposals on how these rights will be protected must be put on the top of all of our agendas.

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