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Date: 05 Sep 2024
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, has welcomed a commitment to work together with his mayoral colleagues in neighbouring councils to promote diversity and inclusion across their respective areas.
Councillor Murray recently attended a meeting with the Mayors of Derry City and Strabane, Newry, Mourne and Down, and Lisburn and Castlereagh to discuss how they can work together to promote diversity and inclusion, with a particular emphasis on the inclusion of all minority groups, including people with disabilities and complex needs.
The meeting was hosted by Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, and also attended by the Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down, Councillor Pete Byrne, and the Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Councillor Kurtis Dickson.
Councillor Murray said: “Recent weeks have shown the very real need to foster continued good relations between all our citizens and to highlight and emphasize the many benefits that increased diversity, inclusion and tolerance bring to all our communities.
"Belfast is proud to be a City of Sanctuary and I look forward to working with my fellow mayors to showcase the many positive projects and initiatives already underway in each of our areas, as well as finding new ways to bring people together and share the many things that we all have in common.”
Mayor Barr described the meeting, on Friday 23 August, as very positive and said it was a great honour to host the dignitaries and to discuss how they can use their influence to make a positive impact on promoting diversity and inclusion.
She said: “I was deeply honoured to host the meeting and to have the three mayors visit this wonderful city. It was a very positive engagement and I am delighted that we have agreed in principle to work collectively on a number of joint mayoral initiatives during our mayoral terms.
"We look forward to building on this relationship during our mayoral term and do what we can collectively to promote diversity and inclusion by reaching out to all minority groups in our council areas. I want to thank the mayors for their encouragement and enthusiasm and look forward to working with them over the coming weeks and months to bring forward these collaborative initiatives.”
Councillor Byrne said: “I would like to thank the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, for the warm welcome to me and the mayors of Belfast and Lisburn and Castlereagh.
"It was a wonderful opportunity for us all to meet in person and discuss our commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in our respective districts. We look forward to sharing more detail on our initiatives in the near future.”
Councillor Dickson said: “As mayors, we recognise the strength that comes from bringing together people of different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. By embracing diversity in all its forms, we can create a vibrant and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to society.
"We have a shared ambition to further promote diversity and inclusion, and we can achieve so much by working together. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with my fellow mayors and I want to thank Mayor Barr for hosting a very engaging and productive meeting.”