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Monica McWilliams is one of the most prominent peacemakers in her very divided country. Monica came of age at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland: the decades-long violent struggle over who should run the country. Militants on both the Catholic and Protestant sides brought fear and destruction to everyday life. In 1996 it was announced there would be peace talks.

At the time, Monica was a university lecturer, and mother to two young sons. She felt strongly that women should be included in discussions about what peace might look like. Within just a few weeks, she and a group of women from across the religious and political divides had established a political party from scratch, the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition. They chose two leaders – Monica, who is Catholic, and Pearl Sagar, who is Protestant. Their poster campaign was very eye-catching. It showed a dinosaur in a suit with the slogan, 'Wave Goodbye to Dinosaurs'. Monica has written a memoir called Stand Up, Speak Out.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producers: Sarah Kendal and Jo Impey

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(Photo: Monica McWilliams and other members of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition. Credit: Derek Spiers)