The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is the oldest women's peace organisation in the world. It was founded in April 1915, in the Hague, the Netherlands, by some 1300 women from Europe and North America, from countries at war against each other and neutral ones, who came together in a Congress of Women to protest the killing and destruction of the war then raging in Europe.

Its aims and principles are:

• to bring together women of different political beliefs and philosophies who are united in their determination to study, make known and help abolish the causes and the legitimization of war;
• to work toward world peace; total and universal disarmament; the abolition of violence and coercion in the settlement of conflict and its replacement in every case by negotiation and conciliation;
• to support the civil society to democratise the United Nations system;
• to support the continuous development and implementation of international and humanitarian law;
• to promote political and social equality and economic equity;
• to contribute towards co-operation among all people;
• to enhance environmentally sustainable development.

Believing that under systems of exploitation these aims cannot be attained and a real and lasting peace and true freedom cannot exist, WILPF makes it one of its missions to further by non- violent means the social and economic transformation of the international community. This would enable the establishment of economic and social systems in which political equality and social justice for all can be attained, without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, or any other grounds whatsoever.

WILPF sees as its ultimate goal the establishment of an international economic order founded on the principles of meeting the needs of all people and not on those of profit and privilege.

WILPF works on issues of peace, human rights and disarmament at the local, national and international levels, participating in the ongoing international debates on peace and security issues, conflict prevention and resolution, on the elimination of all forms of discrimination, and the promotion and protection of human rights. It contributes to analysis of these issues, and through its many activities, educates, informs and mobilizes women for action everywhere.

 

 

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Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
New South Wales Branch, 499 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills 2010
Media Release
29 April 2009
Sydney


WILPF on its 94th year of peace activism calls on governments worldwide to use their 1,339 billion US dollars military budgets in sustainable food production, water management and prevention of armed conflict instead of producing military weapons

Stefania Siedlecky, President of the WILPF NSW Branch reiterates WILPF’s analysis on governments’ military spending: During a so-called global financial crisis, governments are spending 1,339 billion US dollars, the equivalent of 600 years of the UN’s budget, on military. Bombs, guns and landmines cannot be eaten, will not hinder a Tsunami, a hurricane, a flood, a virus, or a water shortage.

She also points to the continuing work of WILPF being the oldest women’s peace organization in the world, established on 28 April 1915 to oppose the war raging in Europe at that time. It has been working ever since to study, make known, and abolish the causes of war, and to support human rights and complete disarmament.

WILPF has constantly campaigned for peace. In 1932 WILPF collected 6 million signatures for the World Disarmament Petition delivered to the World Disarmament Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. WILPF now has member organizations in 28 countries and has Consultative Status with the United Nations. It maintains an international office in Geneva. In 2000 WILPF initiated the work in having the United Nations Security Council adopt the Resolution UNSCR 1325 which advocates the recognition of the role and safety of women in times of conflict. In 2008 the Australian Government made a grant to WILPF Australia to research the implications of this resolution and is yet to endorse it.

In 1959, Margaret Read Holmes, Australian peace activist and wife of Mosman medical practitioner Dr Thomas Arthur Glennie “Tag” Holmes, established a branch in Sydney. Margaret Holmes celebrated her 100th birthday in January this year, the third of WILPF NSW members to do so.  She remains dedicated to the work of WILPF.  

WILPF Australia now has branches in five states and has campaigned for peace and disarmament and against the Vietnam War, against conscription, the use of nuclear weapons, and the Gulf war and Iraq. WILPF NSW works for equal rights for women and for the rights of indigenous people.

Today WILPF continue to oppose the root causes of war, negative climate change and socio-economic crises. Military security concepts and weapons profiteers bear enormous responsibility in killing our planet, impoverishing its people and changing our climate.  The US Pentagon is the biggest single user of oil in the world (320,000 barrels per day), and generates 750 million tons of toxic waste per year.

WILPF NSW will hold a special meeting on 9th of May 2009, Saturday to celebrate WILPF 94th founding anniversary, Margaret’s 100th birthday and provide information on UNSCR 1325. The celebrations will be held at the Humanist House, 10 Shepherd Street, Chippendale in Sydney from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Everyone is welcome.

Reference:
Stefania Siedlecky: (02) 9960 2952
                                Email: siedleck@iinet.net.au