Teresa Doherty

On this month’s show, international Judge Teresa Doherty, who became the first female judge in Northern Ireland and in the entire pacific region, talks to us about her life and work.

She grew up a Catholic in Portstewart in Northern Ireland at a time of a very divided Northern Ireland. Catholics were hugely discriminated against, for example, in terms of employment, they were often much poorer and coupled with that, there was huge inequality in terms of women’s rights and men’s rights, especially in terms of education.

Her background has significantly influenced her impact in the field of international criminal justice, going on to make landmark rulings related to forced marriage and sexual slavery, and she was a member of the Special Court for Sierra Leone - the first court to rule on the use of child soldiers and convicted a sitting Head of State.

Prior to that, Justice Doherty also spent 22 years working in Papua New Guinea, where she worked heavily to highlight the rights of prisoners and women’s rights.

Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty.

With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid, principally, and solicitors working in the Republic of Ireland, who - when applying for the renewal of their practicing certificates – have made a voluntary contribution to IRLI.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or Irish Aid.