On April 10 2023, the people of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain will mark 25 years since leaders from across the political traditions of the island of Ireland came together to sign the Good Friday Agreement. Like Ethiopia’s Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, the Good Friday peace deal was hailed as a momentous landmark. For Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK), it ushered in a new era of peace, security and stability for our two nations, closing 30 years of brutal conflict that divided communities and ended so many lives before their time. The Agreement was a decision to reject the politics of violence and to create a new framework for relationships that embraced the diversity of identities and the aspirations of the people of Ireland, north and south.

The Agreement is a watershed moment in the shared history of Ireland and the UK – it marks a collective commitment to transforming relationships within and between our islands to secure a better future for our people. Now, 25 years later, it is only right that we celebrate this remarkable achievement and reflect on how Ireland can share its 1998’s spirit of vision and leadership to address today’s global challenges.

In the last 25 years, Ireland has learned that peace and reconciliation can only come when parties in conflict set aside their differences and work for the betterment of all. Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in securing the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Irish peacebuilder John Hume remarked that, “Difference is the essence of humanity. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace – respect for diversity.”

These principles must extend to ensuring that all voices are heard and respected in the process of building peace. In Northern Ireland, we learned that women’s voices, in particular, are in danger of not being heard. Northern Irish women had to fight for their place in the peace process and once in they made a very significant contribution to securing and sustaining peace. It is vitally important that women’s voices are not neglected – a process without inclusion of women, youth and a diversity of political opinions cannot be a solid foundation for lasting peace.