23rd October 1997

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The lecture will be the first in a biennial series organized by the University to acknowledge the role of women in peace and reconciliation. The theme for the series is Women's Voices and the University expects that international speakers of note will honour specific individuals or groups which have made a positive contribution to their community and society.

The lecture series will honour the memory of community worker Joyce McCartan, one of the original organizers of the Women's Drop-in Centre on the Ormeau Road in Belfast, who met Mrs Clinton during the Presidential visit in 1995.

As part of the overall initiative, bursaries will be announced which will support women research students who are working in the area of conflict resolution and community reconciliation. The bursaries are being supported by CableTel who will make available £10,000 per year to enable the recipients to travel internationally. The researchers will experience at first hand the role of women in other situations of conflict and explore ways of healing and crossing the barriers of division between communities.

Owen Lamont, Managing Director, CableTel, said:

"We are delighted and honoured to announce our sponsorship of the Women in the Community Bursaries at the University of Ulster. These bursaries form part of our ongoing commitment to the local communities in which we operate. We hope that they will facilitate women to study peace and reconciliation practices abroad and bring back real benefits to Northern Ireland."

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Trevor Smith, said:

"We are very pleased to welcome The First Lady back to Northern Ireland and to the University for the Memorial Lecture. This lecture and the bursaries form part of the University's continuing aim to work to bring about social and cultural reconciliation and cohesion.

"We have no doubt that this programme will bring benefits not only to the individual bursary holders, but to the wider community as well."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk