Professor Monica Mack Williams commends the steps taken by NIHR in the Kingdom of Bahrain
A delegation of the National Institution for Human Rights, now on a visit to Northern Ireland, met Women Studies professor at the Institute for Transitional Justice of the University of Ulster, Monica McWilliams. A professor of law at the university, Dr. Thomas Opel, was also present.
The Bahrain delegation highlighted issues of common interest between the two sides and praised steps to promote cooperation and the exchange of knowledge. Exchange of delegations and holding joint workshops in the field of human rights to build closer ties between human rights institutions around the world was also discussed.
Professor McWilliams chaired the Northern Ireland Commission for Human Rights from 2005-2011, and was responsible for advice on Northern Ireland’s draft human rights law. She is also the co-founder of a women's political party, Coalition of Northern Ireland and was elected to a seat in the multi-party negotiations, which led to the 1988 peace treaty.
She also served on the Legislative Council for Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2003 and was a member of the Northern Ireland Forum for dialogue and understanding from 1996 to 1998. She holds an honorary doctorate and Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library. She has focussed on domestic violence, human security and the role of women in the peace process.
