Twenty-five women who made a “significant contribution” to peace in Northern Ireland and around the world are to be honoured by Hillary Clinton.
The former US secretary of state, who is now the chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, will present them with the Chancellor’s Medal for Civic Leadership as part of events marking the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement.
The awards aim to recognise “those who sat at the negotiating table, who broke glass ceilings, who supported the community and who made sacrifices for peace”.
Recipients include former presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson; former first minister Arlene Foster; Judith Gillespie, who was the North’s most senior woman police officer; and Northern Ireland’s first Lady Chief Justice, Siobhan Keegan.
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Also recognised is US ambassador Nancy Soderberg, former police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan and former minister Liz O’Donnell.
Dr Mo Mowlam, Baroness May Blood and Lyra McKee will receive posthumous awards.
The former first lady, who previously visited Northern Ireland with her husband, former US president Bill Clinton, said that “for a long time, we saw politics being played out by men, and men only.
“When I visited in 1995, I saw at first-hand how the women on the ground were making an indelible mark and helping shape the peace process in a variety of ways.
“I am so pleased that these awards fully recognise the commitment, skills and determination of a diverse group of women, from across the political and civic spectrum, who helped secure and drive forward peace on this island.”
Congratulating the recipients, she said she was “pleased to recognise all of you, I am proud of your impact and I am thankful for what you have done”.
Queen’s University Belfast vice-chancellor, Prof Ian Greer, said the “impact of these 25 inspirational women has had and will continue to have a lasting effect on life here”.
The university is also to award honorary degrees to a number of women who contributed to the peace process, including Pat Hume and Daphne Trimble.
Former US ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues, Melanne Verveer, and Martha Pope, former secretary of the US Senate and deputy to senator George Mitchell during the agreement talks, will also receive honorary degrees during the conference to be held at the university to mark the 25th anniversary of the agreement which will take place from April 17th to 19th.
A number of high-profile current and former politicians, including the Clintons, Mr Mitchell, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, are expected to attend.
