Women's International League for Peace and Freedom facts for kids

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Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

Formation	1915
Founders	Jane Addams, Marian Cripps, and Emily Balch Margaret E. Dungan
Type	Non-Governmental Organization
Headquarters	Geneva

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is a group that works for peace and freedom around the world. It is a non-profit organization, meaning it doesn't make money for its owners. WILPF brings together women from different backgrounds. They want to understand why wars happen and work for lasting peace. They also unite women globally who are against unfair treatment and inequality. WILPF has groups in 37 countries.

WILPF's main office is in Geneva, Switzerland. They also have an office at the United Nations in New York City.

How WILPF Started and Grew

"Peace issues discussed with president, Washington, D.C. Sept. 30, 1936. Delegation from the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom leaving the White House today after discussing peace issues with President Roosevelt. The women plan to campaign during the month of October. In the group, left to right: (front) Miss Dorothy Detzer, recently returned from the world Peace Congress in Brussels; Mrs. Hannah Clothier Hull, President of the League; Dr. Gertrude C. Bussey, of Goucher College; Mrs. Ernest Gruening. Back row, left to right: Mrs. Frank Aydelotte, of Swarthmore, Pa., and Mrs. Mildred S. Olmstead, who just made an expensive trip through the West and Middle West speaking on the need for peace"

WILPF grew from a big meeting called the International Women's Congress. This meeting happened in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1915. Women gathered to protest World War I. At first, they formed the International Women's Committee of Permanent Peace. The name WILPF was chosen later, in 1919.

The first president of WILPF was Jane Addams. She had already started the Woman's Peace Party in the United States in January 1915. This group later became the US part of WILPF. Other founding members included Marian Cripps, Baroness Parmoor and Margaret E. Dungan. The British leader Maude Royden was a vice president. WILPF is against wars and international fights. They have worked on many important issues. For example, they called for an end to the Korean War. They also speak out against weapons and support a day for getting rid of nuclear weapons.

The Woman's Peace Party in the USA

The Woman's Peace Party (WPP) was an early group that led to WILPF. It started in January 1915 in Washington, D.C.. Jane Addams and Carrie Chapman Catt organized the meeting. About 3,000 women attended. They agreed on ideas like giving women the right to vote. They also wanted neutral countries to help end wars through talks.

The WPP sent people to the International Women's Congress for Peace and Freedom. This meeting took place in The Hague in April 1915.

International Congress of Women in The Hague (1915)

The 1915 International Congress of Women was set up by German feminists Anita Augspurg and Lida Gustava Heymann. They were invited by the Dutch pacifist and women's rights activist Aletta Jacobs. The goal was to protest World War I and find ways to stop future wars. The Congress happened from April 28 to May 1. Over 1,100 people from many countries attended. They supported many of the WPP's ideas. They also created the International Committee of Women for Permanent Peace (ICWPP). Jane Addams became its president. The WPP soon became the US part of the ICWPP.

Second International Women's Congress in Zürich (1919)

Jane Addams met with President Woodrow Wilson to talk about peace. Later, at their second international meeting in Zürich in 1919, the ICWPP spoke out against the Treaty of Versailles. This treaty officially ended World War I. The women felt it was too harsh on the losing side. They believed it would lead to another world war.

Because of this, they decided to make their committee a permanent group. They renamed it the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. WILPF moved its main office to Geneva. This was to be close to the new League of Nations. However, WILPF did not agree with the League of Nations using force or economic pressure. WILPF called for countries to get rid of their weapons. They also wanted an end to economic control by powerful nations. The US branch of WILPF became more known after World War I. WILPF supported treaties like the Washington Naval Treaty and the Kellogg–Briand Pact. They saw these as steps toward a peaceful world.

In the 1930s, Vera Brittain was the Vice-President of WILPF. Before World War Two, the League also helped Jewish people in Europe.

Even though WILPF is for women, some male peace activists have helped with their meetings and writings. These include Bart de Ligt and J. D. Bernal.

Two WILPF leaders have won the Nobel Peace Prize. They were honored for their work for peace and their global outlook. These were Jane Addams in 1931 and Emily Greene Balch in 1946.

WILPF and the United Nations

WILPF has worked closely with the United Nations since 1948. They have a special role called "Consultative Status" with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This means they can give advice and share their views with the UN. They also work with other UN groups like UNESCO, UNCTAD, ILO, FAO, and UNICEF.

WILPF pushes for the UN to be more democratic. They want the Security Council and other UN groups to be fairer. They watch what the Security Council and General Assembly do to suggest improvements. They are against the UN being run like a private business. They also want to end the Security Council's veto power.

WILPF Today

Goals and Focus Areas

WILPF works on several key areas:

• Building the Movement: They help more people join the cause for peace.
• Redefining Security: They think about what true safety means, beyond just military power.
• Feminist Views on Peace: They use women's perspectives to find ways to create peace.
• Fairness in Money Matters: They work for economic justice for everyone.

Their main concerns are:

• Global programs that reach many countries.
• Human Rights for all people.
• Women, Peace and Security Programme: This program focuses on women's roles in peace.
• Disarmament Programme: Working to reduce weapons.
• Crisis Response Programme: Helping in times of conflict.

PeaceWomen

The Women in Peace and Security Programme (also called "PeaceWomen") started in 2000. It watches how the UN works on women, peace, and security issues. It also speaks out and shares information. A group called WIPSEN-Africa was started in 2006 by activists Leymah Gbowee (from Liberia) and Thelma Ekiyor (from Nigeria). It is based in Ghana.

Famous Members

Many notable women have been members of WILPF. These include Jane Addams, Gertrud Woker, Aletta Jacobs, Alice Walker, Coretta Scott King, Madeleine Rees, Madeleine Zabriskie Doty, Cornelia Ramondt-Hirschmann, Selma Meyer, Brandy G. Robinson, Margaret Hills, Sheyene Gerardi, Shina Inoue Kan, Harriet Connor Brown, and Emily Greene Balch.

Meetings and Decisions

WILPF's international records are kept at the University of Colorado Boulder. These records include reports from their many meetings, called congresses.

See also

In Spanish: Liga Internacional de Mujeres por la Paz y la Libertad para niños