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Northern Ireland peace and women today

What difference has 15 years of Northern Ireland's peace agreement made to women's lives? Presenter Wendy Austin is joined by Prof Monica McWilliams, who led its women's coalition.

What difference has 15 years of Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement made to women's lives? Professor Monica McWilliams looks back at its signing, the role of the women's coalition and its legacy. Women in east and west Belfast discuss their lives today and given recent disturbances, how they view the future in both communities. Provision of abortion remains strictly controlled, how likely are calls to review legislation to succeed? Acclaimed singer songwriter SOAK performs live. How does the Londonderry teenager, who's grown up with the agreement, view life ahead for her generation?

Presented by Wendy Austin.
Producer: Anne Peacock.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Professor Monica McWilliams

    A founder of the NI Women鈥檚 Coalition which gave women a voice in the peace talks.

    Duration: 04:47

  • Dr Margaret O鈥機allaghan on Margaret Thatcher

    Dr Margaret O鈥機allaghan of Queen鈥檚 Uni Belfast, on Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 role in N. Ireland

    Duration: 02:11

  • Community Voices

    Fifteen years on, how much has changed?

    Duration: 08:04

  • Professor Monica McWilliams

    Professor Monica McWilliams responds to issues raised by the community voices.

    Duration: 05:41

  • Abortion in Northern Ireland

    Discussion with Audrey Simpson, FPA, & Judith Cochrane MLA of the Alliance Party.

    Duration: 11:59

  • SOAK aka Bridie Monds-Watson

    Young singer-songwriter SOAK, aka 16 year old Bridie Monds-Watson, performs live.

    Duration: 07:43

Professor Monica McWilliams

Professor Monica McWilliams

Professor Monica McWilliams was a founder of the Northern Ireland Women鈥檚 Coalition, which gave women in the non-sectarian party a distinctive voice in the peace talks. She looks back to the heady atmosphere in the days leading up to the agreement, identifies the difference made by the coalition and questions the role played by women in public life today.

Dr Margaret O鈥機allaghan

Dr Margaret O鈥機allaghan, historian at Queen鈥檚 University Belfast, reflects on Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 role in Northern Ireland.

Community Voices - 15 Years on, How Much Has Changed?

Women in east and west Belfast who grew up during the Troubles look back at their hopes for the Good Friday Agreement and reflect on their lives fifteen years on. With fears expressed in both communities and a rise in localised violence, how optimistic are they for the next generation?

Abortion - Time for Change?

Two women who broke Northern Ireland鈥檚 laws on abortion talk about why they went public and what change they want to see. Abortion remains unaffected by the political process instigated by the Good Friday Agreement and is strictly controlled here, with few exceptions. Audrey Simpson, Director of the FPA, is joined by Judith Cochrane MLA of the Alliance Party to discuss what鈥檚 to be expected when new draft guidelines on abortion are issued for public consultation.聽

SOAK aka Bridie Monds-Watson

SOAK aka Bridie Monds-Watson

Young singer-songwriter aka 16 year old Bridie Monds-Watson, has received widespread critical acclaim for her music. Having released her debut EP in mid 2012, the teenager has just signed a major publishing deal with Universal. She performs live in the studio and tells us whether she is optimistic about the future for young people in Northern Ireland.

Credit

Role Contributor
Producer Anne Peacock

Broadcast

  • Tue 9 Apr 2013 10:00

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