International Alliance of Women facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
International Alliance of Women
Alliance Internationale des Femmes

Formation	Berlin, 3 June 1904; 121 years ago (1904-06-03)
Founder	Carrie Chapman Catt
Type	INGO
Purpose	Political advocacy
Headquarters	Geneva
Membership	Over 50 organizations world-wide
Official language	English and French
President	Alison Brown
Secretary-General	Miranda Tunica Ruzario
Affiliations	General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, Participatory Status with the Council of Europe

The International Alliance of Women (IAW) is a group that works to make sure women and girls around the world have equal rights. It's an international non-governmental organization, which means it's a group that isn't run by any government.

Historically, the IAW was the main international group that fought for women's suffrage, which is the right for women to vote. Today, the IAW believes that all people, no matter their gender, are "born equally free" and should have the same rights and freedoms. They say that "women's rights are human rights" and that these rights are for everyone, everywhere.

In 1904, the IAW chose gold (or yellow) as its special color. This color had been used by women fighting for the right to vote in the United States since 1867. Because of the IAW, gold and white became the main colors for the women's suffrage movement around the world.

The IAW is one of the oldest, largest, and most important groups working for women's rights. It was first called the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA) when it started in 1904 in Berlin, Germany. It was founded by important leaders like Carrie Chapman Catt, Millicent Fawcett, and Susan B. Anthony. They wanted to help women get the right to vote.

The IWSA was based in London for a long time. Over the years, its focus grew from just voting rights to a wider range of human rights for women. Today, the IAW works with over 50 organizations globally and has its main office in Geneva.

Since 1947, the IAW has had a special "general consultative status" with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. This is the highest level of status a non-governmental organization can get with the UN. This means the IAW can advise the UN on important issues. The IAW also works with the Council of Europe. It has representatives at UN offices in places like New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and at other international groups like UNESCO in Paris.

The IAW believes that LGBT rights are a key part of feminism. In 2021, the IAW and its group in Iceland held a meeting to talk about how important it is for the women's movement and the trans movement to support each other. They shared worries about "anti-trans voices" that could harm this support.

History of the IAW

Women from the Swedish National Association for Women's Suffrage (LKPR) with the IWSA's (now IAW's) banner at a meeting in Stockholm in 1911. Gold and white were the main colors of the international women's suffrage movement.

Carrie Chapman Catt, the first President of the IAW.

Dame Millicent Fawcett, a co-founder and Vice President of the IAW.

The International Alliance of Women, first known as the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, is a very important international group in the movement for women's rights. The idea to create the organization came about in Washington in 1902. Women who wanted the right to vote were frustrated that another group, the International Council of Women, wasn't doing enough to support women's suffrage.

So, the Alliance was created to be a more active group that focused on making women and men equal in law and politics from the very beginning. The group officially started at a meeting in Berlin in 1904 and was called the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA). Its main office was in London for much of its history. Some of its founders included Carrie Chapman Catt, Millicent Fawcett, and Susan B. Anthony.

After its founding, the IWSA held many meetings in different cities, like Copenhagen (1906), Amsterdam (1908), and Stockholm (1911). The IWSA also started its own monthly newspaper called Jus Suffragii. The group chose not to include more radical groups like the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) because they preferred a more peaceful approach, influenced by leaders like Millicent Fawcett.

Between World War I and World War II, the IWSA was one of the three main international women's groups. It was more focused on legal equality and equal citizenship than some other groups. Its members often had ties to political parties that supported individual freedoms and democracy.

In the late 1920s, the organization changed its name to the International Alliance of Women for Suffrage and Equal Citizenship. Then, in 1946, it became the International Alliance of Women, which is its name today. The first leader of the organization, Carrie Chapman Catt, also started the League of Women Voters in the United States.

After World War II, the IAW strongly supported democratic ideas. Its leaders worked to build cooperation in developing countries and supported the United Nations.

What the IAW Stands For

Basic Ideas

The IAW works for a society where all genders are treated equally, based on human rights. The IAW believes that everyone, no matter their gender, is "born equally free" and should have the same rights and freedoms. They say that "women’s rights are human rights" and that these rights are for everyone, everywhere, and are all connected. The IAW supports democratic values, meaning they believe in governments where people vote and have rights.

Equal Political Rights

The IAW was created to fight for women's suffrage (the right to vote). Getting equal political rights for women is still one of its main goals.

Education for All

Making sure girls and women get an education has been important to the women's rights movement since the 1800s. It's still a key focus for the IAW. As the IAW started working more in developing countries, helping girls and women get an education there became even more important.

Equal Rights in Law and Money

Having equal rights in laws and in the economy has been a main goal of the women's rights movement for a long time. For example, the IAW works to make sure women have strong rights to own land and property, especially in developing countries.

Supporting All Genders

The IAW believes that understanding and supporting different gender identities is a key part of women's human rights and gender equality in a modern, democratic society. The IAW stands firmly against all forms of unfair treatment, including transphobia (prejudice against transgender people) and racism. These beliefs are core values of the movement and are seen as essential for achieving equality.

Former IAW President Marion Böker said that the women's rights movement must work based on human rights, which are for everyone. She stressed the importance of defending democratic values and fighting for a women's movement that includes everyone. She also warned against groups that try to turn women's rights against the human rights of minorities.

Many groups that work with the IAW, like the Icelandic Women's Rights Association, support feminism that includes transgender people. They have said that "feminism without trans women is no feminism at all." The Danish Women's Society, another IAW partner, supports all efforts that help the rights of gay and transgender people. They see the LGBTQA movement as important allies in the fight against inequality.

Other large women's rights groups, like the National Organization for Women and the League of Women Voters (which was started by the IAW's first president), also agree. They emphasize that protecting transgender people from discrimination helps all women and girls achieve equality.

Symbols of the IAW

The original logo of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, now the IAW.

A plate with the symbol and motto of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA). The text says "Jus Suffragii" (the right to vote).

A gold ribbon used during a meeting of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in Amsterdam in 1908. The color gold/yellow is the oldest symbol of women's rights.

In 1904, the IAW chose gold (or yellow) as its special color. This color comes from the sunflower and is the oldest symbol of women's rights. American women fighting for the right to vote started using it in 1867. Because of the IAW's influence, gold and white became the main colors for the international women's suffrage movement.

The use of gold was very important to the suffrage movement. Women used gold pins, ribbons, and sashes to show their support. In 1916, at a big political meeting in the U.S., women created "The Golden Lane." Delegates had to walk through a long line of women dressed in white with gold sashes, carrying yellow umbrellas. Gold also stood for enlightenment, which was a goal of the movement.

IAW Meetings

The IAW has held many important meetings over the years:

• 1st, Washington, D.C., 1902
• 2nd, Berlin, 1904
• 3rd, Copenhagen, 1906
• 4th, Amsterdam, 1908
• 5th, London, 1909
• 6th, Stockholm, 1911
• 7th, Budapest, 1913
• 8th, Geneva, 1920
• 9th, Rome, 1923
• 10th, Paris, 1926
• 11th, Berlin, 1929
• 12th, Istanbul, 1935
• 13th, Copenhagen, 1939
• 14th, Interlaken, 1946
• 15th, Amsterdam, 1949
• 16th, Naples, 1952
• 17th, Colombo, Ceylon, 1955
• 18th, Athens, 1958
• 19th, Dublin, 1961
• 21st, England, 1967
• 22nd, Königstein, West Germany, 1970
• 23rd, New Delhi, 1973

How the IAW is Organized

The IAW holds a big meeting every three years in the home country of one of its member organizations. At this meeting, they elect their leaders. The current President and main representative to the United Nations is Alison Brown. The leadership team also includes a Secretary-General, a Treasurer, and up to 20 other members.

IAW Presidents

1. Carrie Chapman Catt (US) 1904–1923
2. Dame Margery Corbett Ashby (UK) 1923–1946
3. Hanna Rydh (Sweden) 1946–1952
4. Ester Graff (Denmark) 1952–1958
5. Ezlynn Deraniyagala (Sri Lanka) 1958–1964
6. Begum Anwar Ahmed (Pakistan) 1964–1970
7. Edith Anrep (Sweden) 1970–1973
8. Irène de Lipkowski (France) 1973–1979
9. Olive Bloomer (UK) 1979–1989
10. Alice Yotopoulos-Marangopoulos (Greece) 1989–1996
11. Patricia Giles (Australia) 1996–2004
12. Rosy Weiss (Austria) 2004–2010
13. Lyda Verstegen (The Netherlands) 2010–2013
14. Joanna Manganara (Greece) 2013–2020
15. Cheryl Hayles (Canada) 2020–2021
16. Marion Böker (Germany) 2021–2022
17. Alison Brown (US) 2022–

Current Work

The IAW currently works with about 45 organizations around the world, as well as individual members. Since 1947, the IAW has had the highest level of status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It also works with the Council of Europe.

The IAW has permanent representatives in cities like New York, Vienna, Geneva, Paris, and Rome. They also connect with the European Union through their membership in the European Women's Lobby in Brussels. The IAW's current representative at the UN headquarters, Soon-Young Yoon, also leads a committee focused on the status of women.

The IAW is especially focused on making sure that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is followed everywhere. This important document helps protect women's rights. The IAW has different groups that work on topics like Justice and Human Rights, Democracy, Peace, stopping violence, and Health.

Members of the IAW

See also

In Spanish: Alianza Internacional de Mujeres para niños

• List of suffragists and suffragettes
• List of women's rights activists
• List of women's rights organizations
• Women's suffrage organizations
• Timeline of women's suffrage
• Timeline of women's rights (other than voting)