Betty Williams

Betty Williams

"“The Nobel Peace Prize is not awarded for what one has done, but hopefully what one will do.” The words of Betty Williams who in 1976 along with Mairead Corrigan Maguire was awarded the Prize for her work to bring peace in her native Northern Ireland...

"Mrs. Williams has travelled the globe recording the testimonies of children who have been subjected to horrors beyond belief. In her travels, it became evident to Mrs. Williams that to create the changes necessary and persuade governments to listen to the voices of their children, legislative changes must be implemented (legislation to protect children). The other obvious fact is that every country where children are under the threat of death and destruction, safe areas must be created, areas off limits to any form of military attack.

"Cities must be created; cities of compassion and peace, cities where children would be treated with the dignity, respect and love they deserve. Such cities would alleviate the huge refugee and orphan problems in many countries.

"As a result of many years of work In Italy, World Centers of Compassion for Children International is building the first City of Compassion for children in south Italy in the Region Basilicata.

"The Global Children’s Studies Center was founded by Mrs. Williams in 1992. This evolved into founding World Centers of Compassion for Children International in 1997, in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

"On 2 March 2007, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy along with the National Chengchi University co-hosted a speech given by Mrs. Betty Williams titled: “The Politics of Non-Violence”, at National Chengchi University. Mrs. Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for her work against violence in her native Northern Ireland. Since then, Mrs. Williams has continued her efforts to improve human rights around the globe in many capacities. She serves currently as President of World Centers of Compassion for Children. She is also Chair of The Institute for Asian Democracy in Washington, DC and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Nova Southeastern University."

"In 1976, along with Mairead Maguire, Betty Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work against violence in her native Northern Ireland. Together, Williams and Maguire founded the Community of Peace People, an organization which is still involved in the betterment of life in Northern Ireland. But, as Williams herself has said many times, the Nobel Peace Prize is not awarded for what one has done but for what one will do.She serves on the Council of Honor for the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica and is a Patron for the International Peace Foundation in Vienna. Since then, she has been honored with the People’s Peace Prize of Norway, the Schweitzer Medallion for Courage, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, the Eleanor Roosevelt Award and the Frank Foundation Child Care International Oliver Award. In 1992, Governor Ann Richards of Texas appointed Betty to the Texas Commission for Children and Youth. In 1995, she was awarded the Rotary Club International “Paul Harris Fellowship” and the Together for Peace Foundation Peace Building Award."

Affiliations

 * Cofounder, Spiritual Alliance to Stop Intimate Violence
 * Founder, Nobel Women's Initiative
 * Founding Board Member, Alliance for the New Humanity
 * Winner of the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize
 * Member, Committee of 100 for Tibet
 * Honorary Member, Club of Budapest: Members
 * Member, World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality
 * Honorary Board, Albert Schweitzer Institute
 * Advisory Board, Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education
 * Advisor, Pathways To Peace
 * Advisor, Children of the Earth

Related Sourcewatch

 * Fiona Montagu