Betty Williams
Elizabeth Williams (née Smyth; 22 May 1943 – 17 March 2020) was a peace activist from Northern Ireland. She was a co-recipient with Mairead Corrigan of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for her work as a cofounder of Community of Peace People, an organisation dedicated to promoting a peaceful resolution to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Betty Williams | |
|---|---|
Williams in 1996 | |
| Born | Elizabeth Smyth 22 May 1943 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Died | 17 March 2020 (aged 76) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Northern Irish |
| Education | St Dominic's Grammar School for Girls, Belfast |
| Occupation(s) | Activist, humanitarian |
| Known for | Receiving the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Co-founder of the Nobel Women's Initiative |
| Spouses |
James Perkins (m. 1982) |
| Awards | Nobel Peace Prize (1976) |
Williams headed the Global Children's Foundation and was the President of the World Centre of Compassion for Children International. She was also the Chair of Institute for Asian Democracy in Washington D.C. She lectured widely on topics of peace, education, inter-cultural and inter-faith understanding, anti-extremism, and children's rights.
Williams was a founding member of the Nobel Laureate Summit, which has taken place annually since 2000.
In 2006, Williams became a founder of the Nobel Women's Initiative along with Nobel Peace Laureates Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Shirin Ebadi, Wangari Maathai, Jody Williams and Rigoberta Menchú Tum. These six women, representing North and South America, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, brought together their experiences in a united effort for peace with justice and equality. It is the goal of the Nobel Women's Initiative to help strengthen work being done in support of women's rights around the world. Williams was also a member of PeaceJam.