Monica McWilliams

"From Peace Talks to Gender Justice" Sept. 29, 2010 As the keynote speaker for the 2010 Women PeaceMakers Conference, Monica McWilliams, chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, addressed the challenges of turning the promise of peace accords into stable post-conflict societies through the inclusion of women in political and civil leadership. Question-and-Answer Session was with Luz Méndez, 2004 IPJ Woman PeaceMaker, who took part in the Guatemalan peace negotiations, working in particular for the inclusion of gender equality commitments. She was one of two women signatories to the final peace accords.   Watch Lecture Read Booklet Order Booklet

Chief Commissioner, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Co-founder of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition political party, McWilliams was elected to a seat at the Multi-Party Peace Negotiations, which led to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in 1998.

After serving as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for five years, McWilliams became chief commissioner for the Human Rights Commission of Northern Ireland in 2005. As a professor of women’s studies, currently on leave from the University of Ulster, her published works focus on domestic violence, human security and the role of political conflict on women’s lives.

Her work has been recognized by a special Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, the Frank Cousin’s Peace Award and several honorary doctorates. McWilliams is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Michigan.

Updated on 9/29/2010