Curriculm Vitae
| 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 |
| Aug 1991 – Aug 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 |