This is a live recording of an interview with Monica McWilliams on 29th April 2026 as part of Corrymeela’s 60th anniversary exhibition hosted by the Linenhall Library. Jonny Clark asks Monica questions relating to her life and work as told in her recent memoir “Stand Up, Speak Out”. The political environment of Northern Ireland in the mid 90’s leading up to the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement was one of hope, but hope tempered with anxiety and continual mistrust and constant arguments between the main parties. It seemed for many of us that long term peace was too good to believe. Into this environment of anxiety and polarisation came the fresh voice of Monica McWilliams and the Women’s Coalition. They seemed to transcend the old sectarian talking points and brought hope by talking about real issues and by breaking into the patriarchal world not just of NI Politics but our wider society. The Women’s Coalition received enough votes to gain seats at the negotiating table for the Multi-Party talks which led to our Agreement. Without their presence the table would have been surrounded entirely by men. This unlikely and inspirational story was recently told in the brilliant play “Cuckoo Land”. Monica McWilliams is an academic, a human rights activist, former politician, she was Chief Commisioner for the NI Human Rights from 2005–2011, and was the Oversight Commissioner for prison reform in Northern Ireland (2011–2015). She currently sits on the Independent Reporting Commission for the disbandment of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.She is Emeritus Professor in the Transitional Justice Institute at Ulster University and continues her academic research into domestic violence. We want to pay tribute to the Linenhall Library and Patsy Horton who hosted this live recording.