Sinn Féin should end attacks on Protestant villages before they launch their charter of unionist engagement next week, the DUP said today.

East Antrim MLA Sammy Wilson said actions spoke louder than words and republicans should prove their commitment to policing rather than produce glossy initiatives.

Martina Anderson from Sinn Féin is to launch the outreach programme on Tuesday at Stormont ahead of a visit to Messines in Belgium for a cross-community peace initiative next month.

Mr Wilson said: “They could give some respect for unionist culture instead of deliberately organising attempts to stamp out that culture across Northern Ireland.

“That includes parades but there’s a whole range of other ways in which they have shown little respect for unionist culture.

“These include stopping the attacks on front-line unionist communities in border line areas and small towns across Northern Ireland.”

Efforts to resolve the Drumcree parading dispute in Portadown have reportedly suffered a setback despite a fresh initiative this year.

Recently there was a suspicious fire in a Church of Ireland hall in Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, which has been subject to sectarian attack before.

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has asked republican community workers to help end such attacks.

Ms Anderson said the Sinn Féin event next week was designed to encourage communication between each community.

“On Tuesday we are launching our charter for unionist engagement,” she said.

“We are trying to ensure that we never revisit the events of the past again.”

She will join fellow MLA Willie Clarke and politicians from across Ireland on the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Messines next month.

The 16th Irish and 36th Ulster divisions fought together for the first time during the First World War battle.

Ms Anderson said there were lessons to be learned from one of the 20th century’s bloodiest episodes.

“We will be looking at where we have come from in terms of the peace process. We all have a part to play in building a shared future based on equality and human rights,” she said.

“It is about looking at the legacy of the past, a legacy of war, and it is a way to try to prevent it from happening again.”

There were about 42,000 casualties in trench warfare between Germany and the Allies.

Some unionists will take part in the conference, which Ms Anderson will address on Friday.

She said she had relatives who fought in the conflict and added that her attendance didn’t compromise her republicanism.

“I am comfortable with my republicanism. Republicans accept the current challenges and while I am opposed to imperialism there are lessons to be learned.”

An Irish Peace Tower was unveiled at the battle site in 1998.