Born: 1917 in Germiston, South Africa (parents were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe)

Educated: Parktown Convent, Johannesburg / B. Com. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

• 1937 Married to the late Dr MM Suzman. Two daughters

• 1941 – 1943 Statistician War Supplies Board

• 1944 – 1952 Lecturer in Economic History, University of the Witwatersrand

• 1953 Elected Member of Parliament for Houghton – United Party

• 1959 Inaugural Member of Progressive Party

• 1961 – 1974 Sole Representative Progressive Party MP for Houghton

• 1973 The Star Woman of the Year

• 1973 Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law, Oxford University

• 1973 Honorary Fellow, St. Hugh’s College, Oxford

• 1974 Honorary Fellow, London School of Economics

• 1975 Dyason Lecturer, Institute of International Affairs, Australia

• 1976 American Jewish Committee (Philadelphia) Humanitarian Award

• 1976 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Harvard University

• 1976 Honorary Doctorate of Law, University of the Witwatersrand

• 1977 Returned unopposed as PFP MP

• 1977 Honorary Doctorate of Law, Columbia University, New York

• 1977 Honorary Doctorate of Law, Smith College, USA

• 1978 United Nations Human Rights Award

• 1979 University of the Witwatersrand Alumni Award - Twice nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

• 1980 Medallion of Heroism (New York)

• 1981, 1987 Re-elected as PFP MP

• 1981 Honorary Doctorate of Law, Brandeis University

• 1982 Honorary Doctorate Humane Letters, Denison University

• 1983 New York International League for Human Rights Award

• 1984 American Liberties Medallion Civil Rights Award

• 1984 Freedom Prize, Politiken and Dagen Nyheter, Copenhagen

• 1984 Honorary Doctorate Humane Letters, New School of Social Research

• 1984 Honorary Doctorate Humane Letters, Sacred Heart University, Connecticut

• 1986 Honorary Doctorate Humane Letters, Jewish Theological Seminary of America

• 1986 Honorary Doctorate of Law, University of Cape Town

• 1986 Roger E. Joseph Award of Human Rights, Hebrew Union College, New York

• 1987 Honorary Freeman of Kingston upon Hull

• 1988 Moses Mendelssohn Prize from the Berlin Senate

• 1989 Retired from Parliament

• 1989 Honorary Doctorate of Law, University of Western Ontario

• 1989 Honorary Doctorate Humane Letters, Ohio University

• 1989 Honorary Dame of the British Empire

• 1989 Freedom of Town of Sandton

• 1990 Honorary Doctorate of Law, Rhodes University

• 1990 Honorary Doctorate of Law, Cambridge University

• 1990 Honorary Doctorate, D. University, University of Glasgow

• 1990 Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of Ulster

• 1990 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Nottingham

• 1990 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Warwick

• 1990 Honorary Fellow, New Hall, Cambridge

• 1990 Allied Visionary Award, Johannesburg

• 1991 Honorary Doctorate of University, Brunel University, West London

• 1991 – 1993 President, South African Institute of Race Relations

• 1992 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Indiana University

• 1992 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Rutgers University

• 1992 Honorary Citizen Fellow, Indiana University May

• 1992 B’Nai B’Rith Dor L’Dor Award

• 1992 Wallenberg Award University of Michigan (“One Person can make a Difference”)

• 1993 Published Memoirs (“In No Uncertain Terms”)

• 1993 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Toronto

• 1994 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, De Montfort University, UK

• 1994 Member of Independent Electoral Commission

• 1995 Notre Dame Award for Human Rights, Indiana USA

• 1995 Noel Foundation, UNIFEM Award, Los Angeles

• 1995 – 1998 Member of the South African Human Rights Commission

• 1996 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Wales

• 1996 – 1999 Chairperson of the Vaal Reefs Disaster Trust Fund

• 1997 Order of Merit (Gold) South Africa (presented by President Mandela)

• 1998 Jules Cohen Memorial Award, Philadelphia Jewish Community

• 1998 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Natal

• 1999 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Yale University

• 1999 Commander Cross : Order of Merit, Federal Republic of Germany, Pretoria

• 2001 Courageous Leadership Award, South African Women for Women Toronto

• 2001 Declared “Enemy of the State” by Mugabe in the distinguished company of Lords Renwick and Carrington.

• 2002 Liberal International Prize for Freedom Budapest

• 2003 Rotary Award – Paul Harris Fellowship Award – Sapphire

• 2004 Jewish National Fund Award (1000 trees planted in Israel in my name and a Wing bearing my name added to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Home in Mamelodi, South Africa).

• 2005/6 Exhibitions to honour Helen Suzman’s career at the Jewish Museum in Cape Town and the Rabbi Cyril Harris Community Centre in Johannesburg

• 2006 Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Stellenbosch

• 2007 Received honour at Côte Saint-Luc Human Rights Walkway, Montreal, Canada

• 2007 SA Jewish Board of Deputies Human Rights Award

• 2008 Honorary Doctorate of Laws Kings College London