Laureates head gender campaign

SIX female Nobel peace laureates came together yesterday to fire the opening salvo in a global offensive on sexual discrimination.

The campaigners vowed to lobby governments and major institutions in a high-profile bid to root out gender inequality.

The strategy was unveiled in Dublin at the conclusion of the first international conference of the Nobel Women’s Initiative — made up of six of the seven surviving peace prize winners.

The six women — Dr Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Wangari Maathai, Rigoberta Menchu Tum and Ireland’s Betty Williams and Mairéad Corrigan Maguire — represent struggles in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The seventh woman, Aung San Suu Kyi, is still imprisoned in Burma.

Ms Corrigan Maguire was awarded the peace prize along with Ms Williams in 1976 for their work to end the conflict in Ireland.

“For three decades, women in Northern Ireland have played a consistent and progressive role in securing a lasting settlement.

“The recent achievement of a devolved government in Northern Ireland is a demonstration that efforts can be rewarded.”

Human rights activists, disarmament experts and ex-political prisoners from around the world attended the closed session conference this week which focused on the plight of women in the Middle East.