A wider memorial programme has been recommended for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse.
It has emerged that a memorial bench is set to be located in Parliament Buildings for those who suffered abuse at state, church or charity-run homes in Northern Ireland in the past.
A permanent memorial, as well as compensation and an official apology, was among the recommendations of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI), which revealed sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the homes from 1922 to 1995.
Fiona Ryan, Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (Cosica), described the inquiry report, issued seven years ago, as a “defining moment”.
She paid tribute to victims and survivors who “courageously campaigned for truth and recognition and acknowledgement of the abuse they had suffered in institutions as children”.
Ms Ryan said she has “highlighted the importance of progressing the inquiry recommendation with urgency”, pointing out that many victims and survivors have already passed away.
But she said she has also asked Stormont’s Executive Office to consider a wider memorial programme in reflection of the wide range of views of victims and survivors.
“It is heartening to see that the Executive Office have taken this advice on board and are progressing with that work on the inquiry recommendation, as well as consideration of a wider memorial programme,” she said.
“I know from meeting with victims and survivors and their families that the legacy of trauma is experienced across families and across generations.
“It is a life-long legacy that does not disappear, living on to have lasting impact and this needs to be acknowledged.”
Ms Ryan said there is a duty to “recognise and acknowledge the experiences of victims and survivors and the trauma that was inflicted upon them as children in these institutions, in a meaningful way”.
“We have an opportunity with memorial to also ensure that in remembering the past, memorial informs the future,” she said.
“We must ensure that future generations, including those in government and those responsible for the care of vulnerable children and young people and older people, are informed by victims and survivors’ experiences.”
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Assembly said the Assembly Commission is liaising with the Executive Office to deliver the memorial bench.
“The Assembly Commission has agreed that a memorial bench to recognise the victims of historical institutional abuse will be installed in the Assembly Chamber rotunda and is working in partnership with the Executive Office on this important and sensitive project,” they said.
“This has been agreed in line with the recommendations of the Hart Inquiry and is particularly appropriate given that the official apology to the victims and survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse was delivered in the Assembly Chamber and presided over by the Speaker.
“The Speaker and the Assembly Commission are committed to playing their part in ensuring that the victims and survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse are remembered but recognise that this is only one limited aspect of the memorial initiatives that the Executive Office is undertaking in consultation with victims and survivors.
“Assembly Commission and Executive Office officials will be liaising over the next few weeks on the details of the work required to see the memorial bench delivered.”
