Day of Private Reflection

The Day of Private Reflection will be held again this year on 21 June. The Healing Through Remembering group is offering it as a day for personal, private and individual reflection at home, at work or within a family, group or organisation.

The Day of Private Reflection 2008 is designed as an inclusive and positive event that emphasises a commitment to a peaceful new society. It provides an opportunity for everyone in Northern Ireland, the Republic and Britain to reflect on the conflict in and about Northern Ireland and on the future.

Public events are not a feature of the Day.

Why 21 June?

The date was chosen after thorough consideration of possible dates. This highlighted that there is no single date in the calendar year which is not the anniversary of the death of at least one person during the conflict.

Healing Through Remembering felt that 21 June, the summer solstice and the longest day of the year, was a symbolically important day. The ebbing relationship between the hours of night and day could be seen as a symbol of the pain and hope in our society.

It is a day that is forward-looking and backward-looking at the same time. It represents a pause in the cycle of nature, a moment to reflect. Furthermore, the day's significance is related to a naturally occurring event and nature makes no distinction between races, creeds or political perspectives.

Purpose of the Day

The Day of Private Reflection offers an opportunity for us all:

• to acknowledge the deep hurt and loss caused by the conflict in and about Northern Ireland;
• to remember the men, women and children who on a daily basis live with the consequences of the conflict;
• to reflect on our own attitudes that might have the potential to negatively impact on others and society;
• to reflect on what more each of us might have done or might still do to uphold and enhance all other people's right to life and quality of life;
• to make a personal commitment that, as we begin to move forward as a society, such loss should never be allowed to happen again.

The Day of Private Reflection 2008 will be evaluated to inform the decision on whether to proceed with this initiative in future years and if so, in what format.

For more information click on www.dayofreflection.com