Northern Ireland Women's Coalition

(1996-2006) The NIWC was formed in 1996 as a cross-community party with an agenda of "reconciliation through dialogue, accommodation and inclusion". In addition the party was also keen to encourage and promote the participation of women in politics as well establishing their overall contribution to Northern Ireland society in general. Within a very short period of its formation the party nominated 70 candidates in the Northern Ireland Forum elections on 30 May 1996 and had two people elected (Pearl Sagar and Monica McWilliams). This enabled the NIWC to participate in the multi-party talks that began in June 1996 and which were to culminate in April 1998 with the Good Friday Agreement (GFA). The NIWC also campaigned for a 'Yes' vote in the subsequent Referendum campaign in May 1998 and in the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 25 June 1998 won two seats(Monica McWilliam and Jane Morrice) to the Northern Ireland Assembly. During the life time of the Assembly (1998-2003) the NIWC fully supported the GFA and this was to be illustrated in November 2001 when the party's two Assembly members were re-designated as unionists to allow for the re-election of David Trimble as First Minister. At the Assembly elections in November 2003 the NIWC polled badly and lost its two seats. The party's final remaining elected representative lost her seat on North Down Borough Council in 2005. On 11 May 2006 the NIWC was officially wound up at a function held in Belfast. Reading: Fearon, Kate. (1999) Women's Work: The Story of the Women's Coalition.