麻豆社

Professor Monica McWilliams was a founder of the Northern Ireland Women鈥檚 Coalition, which gave women in the non-sectarian party a distinctive voice in the peace talks. She looks back to the heady atmosphere in the days leading up to the agreement, identifies the difference made by the coalition and questions the role played by women in public life today.

Women in east and west Belfast who grew up during the Troubles look back at their hopes for the Good Friday Agreement and reflect on their lives fifteen years on. With fears expressed in both communities and a rise in localised violence, how optimistic are they for the next generation?

Two women who broke Northern Ireland鈥檚 laws on abortion talk about why they went public and what change they want to see. Abortion remains unaffected by the political process instigated by the Good Friday Agreement and is strictly controlled here, with few exceptions. Audrey Simpson, Director of the FPA, is joined by Judith Cochrane MLA of the Alliance Party to discuss what鈥檚 to be expected when new draft guidelines on abortion are issued for public consultation.聽

Young singer-songwriter aka 16 year old Bridie Monds-Watson, has received widespread critical acclaim for her music. Having released her debut EP in mid 2012, the teenager has just signed a major publishing deal with Universal. She performs live in the studio and tells us whether she is optimistic about the future for young people in Northern Ireland.