MARY Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney are to be honoured with new installations in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.
Belfast City Council voted in favour of the move at a meeting on Tuesday.
The statues are part of a bid to make the city hall grounds more reflective of society, following a review in 2012.
The19th century anti-slavery campaigner and Irish nationalist Mary Ann McCracken will be honoured along with Winifred Carney, a Co Down-born trade unionist, suffragist and Sinn Féin 1918 election candidate.
She was at James Connolly's side throughout the Easter Rising. Carney was his close confidant and typed his orders throughout the rebellion.
The council is now exploring the form the new installations - each expected to cost around £50,000 - will take.
Plans are also underway for two further new statues, though no decision has been made on who they will represent.
Alliance councillor Michael Long suggested that what will eventually be erected "won't necessarily be the traditional statue".
Referring to Presbyterian philanthropist Ms McCracken's famous opposition to slavery and support of social reform during her life, he added: "Mary Ann McCracken had views and ideals that would be totally resonant today with a large section of the community."
Welcoming the decision, Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie said: "Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney were two leaders in this city.
"Both women fought against injustice, both women fought against inequality, they fought for rights, they fought for the freedom of Ireland."
