Bernadette McAliskey is a life-long campaigner for social justice and human rights. She continues to work internationally as a socialist republican and feminist.

This conversation with Professor Phil Scraton will focus on Bernadette’s lifelong commitment to socialist-feminism within a society divided by sectarian conflict and economic marginalisation.

From Cookstown, one of six children, Bernadette Devlin’s father died when she was nine. Poverty and sectarianism inspired her socialism and republicanism, she became politically active in the student movement. In 1969 she had a significant role in the Belfast to Derry Civil Rights march attacked by Loyalists. In Derry, 14 innocent people were shot dead by soldiers of the Parachute Regiment. She was elected MP for Mid-Ulster aged 22. In her writing, broadcasting and talks her political activism has remained unwavering.

Since 1997 Bernadette has worked for, and is now Director of, the rights-based South Tyrone Community Empowerment Programme, committed to protecting the rights of families recruited from Europe to work in agriculture and factories. Aiming to eradicate racism and social inequality, STEP challenges economic marginalisation and social exclusion though personal support and community development.

Phil is a supporter of the Arts Centre and is Emeritus Professor in the School of Law at Queen’s University, Belfast.

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.

#IWD2025 #AccelerateAction