Northern Irish human rights activist Inez McCormack dies

Internationally renowned and praised by world leaders and fellow campaigners

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After portraying Inez McCormack in the Vital Voices play “SEVEN” in New York City, Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep is pictured with Hillary Clinton, and Inez

Photo by SEVEN

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Nicola Browne added, "Following the production of Seven in New York, Inez was asked by Meryl Streep why she did her work - Inez replied saying: ‘At the heart of everything, I desire to see the glint in a woman's eye who thought she was nobody, when she realizes that she is somebody.’

“Inez's life revolved around recognizing the dignity of those who were more accustomed to being sidelined and ignored. It is because of this, that her death will be equally mourned by those with power and those without. It will come as no surprise to those who knew and loved her that her conversations in her last weeks were marked by warmth and much laughter."

President Michael D Higgins, Hillary Clinton, Meryl Streep and Mary Robinson were among the many friends and colleagues who contacted Inez in recent weeks.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke about Inez McCormack during her visit to Belfast on Friday 6 December 2012: “One person who is not here is Inez McCormack. Inez stands out amongst the extraordinary people I have worked with over the last 17 years. She inspired and motivated me, challenged me often.”

Discussing her recent conversation with Inez, Hillary said: “She wanted to talk about how we had to keep working to bring people together so that they would recognize the common humanity and experience in the other; the fact that they want to be part of a family and a community; have a good job and a livelihood; a chance to learn and try to make sense of the world; to seek meaning and fulfillment in their choice of religious faith and practice.

“One of Inez’s comments will always remain with me: There are so many more ties that bind us than divide us.”

Meryl Streep said: “Inez is such a great inspiration to thousands of women around the world. We are so grateful for the model of her life as a call to action for others, and I send love from so many people in the US who are aware of the difference she has made, actually, and by the example she sets.”

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN Human Rights Commissioner said: “Inez was a remarkable woman with a remarkable capacity for friendship. She would want us to remember the positive issues she embraced with a combination of lateral thinking and supportive warmth: the McBride Principles; her leadership of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and her own Union, Unison; her championing of women's rights and combating gender based violence, at home and in countries of conflict.

“It was from Inez I learned that you can achieve much more if you don't need the credit. Her support to me as a close advisor when I served as President was invaluable, but she never appeared in photographs or in the front row.

“Inez had unique qualities of listening and affirming. They enabled her to encourage local communities - in Belfast initially, then throughout the island- to engage with the International Human Rights System and use it as a tool to empower them in addressing the quality and fairness of local authority services. This work was recognized recently by the Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights as a great example for other communities to follow.
“A life well lived. May she rest in peace.”

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