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Women are generally written out of history and end up as a footnote, but they have made, and continue to make, a huge difference in the fight against injustice, peace activist and human rights defender Monica McWilliams has said.
Monica McWilliams, Siobhan Hanley, Trόcaire’s Head of Region NI and Caoimhe de Barra, Trόcaire CEO at the event in the MAC. Photo: Justin Kernoghan
Speaking at Trócaire’s new ‘Connections’ series at The Mac in Belfast, hosted by veteran broadcaster Gerry Kelly, Ms McWilliams said: “The need for women to stand up and speak out doesn’t apply just to Northern Ireland. It is so important in countries where Trócaire works where there is awful conflict and injustice.”
A packed room heard about Monica’s work and experiences as a life-long defender of equality and rights, particularly those of women and girls. They also heard of her role as one of only two women at the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement as described in her recently published memoir, ‘Stand Up, Speak Out: My Life Working for Women’s Rights, Peace and Equality in Northern Ireland and Beyond’.
Caoimhe de Barra, Trόcaire CEO, Monica McWilliams and Maudí Tzay Patal an indigenous Mayan human rights defender from Guatemala who works for Trόcaire’s partner ECAP at the event in the MAC. Photo: Justin Kernoghan
Monica reflected on her work and travels with Trócaire saying: “It’s extremely important to connect the global to local and local to global and that’s what Trόcaire does. I’ve travelled to see Trόcaire’s work in Uganda and DRC and saw first-hand the challenges facing women there.”
She added: “In Uganda, girls had been kidnapped and subjected to terrible sexual violence by the Lord’s Resistance Army and then were stigmatised and shunned if they managed to make it back home. It was heart-breaking but Trόcaire gives girls and women in horrendous circumstances the support needed to speak out and rebuild their lives.”
Caoimhe de Barra, Trόcaire’s CEO, shared the stage with Monica and said Trócaire works with and supports many courageous women like Monica McWilliams in countries around the globe.
Gerry Kelly interviews Monica McWilliams at the event in the MAC. Photo: Justin Kernoghan
“These are women who recognise that they have a role to play in challenging injustice and bringing about change. Through our local partners, we support these women to stand up and speak out in a way which is safe for them and which has a real and lasting positive impact on their communities and indeed their countries,” she said.
The ‘Connections’ series aims to provide the opportunity to hear from change-makers on the front line, and the audience also heard from Maudí Tzay Patal an indigenous Mayan human rights defender from Guatemala who works for Trόcaire’s partner ECAP, a well-known Guatemalan mental health organisation that provides support to survivors of violence. Maudí works with female victims of sexual violence who are in the process of seeking justice and also supports Human Rights Defenders involved in conflicts with extractive businesses.
Maudí said, “In Guatemala we see grave human rights abuses particularly against indigenous women who speak up for their communities. We have a huge problem with the shutting down of spaces for women to contribute at all levels including politically. We need to be recognised as contributors particularly around peace-building. It is so important to listen to women’s voices and hear what they are experiencing.”
