Dawn Over the Equator: Monica Felton on the Second Gerwani Congress, 1954
Monica Felton (WIDF Vice-President) writes in 1954 on the Second Congress of Gerwani, which she attended: 349 delegates, 80,000 members, a meeting with President Sukarno, resolutions on West Irian, the 1955 elections, a nationwide marriage law, democratic rights and support for the government against armed gangs. She s
We need their friendship: 80 million Indonesians
Tribune (Sydney), 12 May 1954, p. 11: Allison Dickie, Union of Australian Women delegate, reports on the 1954 Indonesian women's congress. She describes Gerwis, the league of women 'more politically awake', whose work helped hundreds of thousands become literate and from which Gerwani developed; the six-day Gerwani Nat
We need their friendship: 80 million Indonesians
Tribune (Sydney), 12 May 1954, p. 11: Allison Dickie, Union of Australian Women delegate, reports on the 1954 Indonesian women's congress. She describes Gerwis, the league of women 'more politically awake', whose work helped hundreds of thousands become literate and from which Gerwani developed; the six-day Gerwani Nat
A great and strong people fights for a better life: Rie Lips on Java
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: opening of an interview with Rie Lips, vice-chair of the NVB, back from six weeks on Java after the Gerwis/Gerwani congress. She rejects stereotypes of Indonesians as lazy, dirty or stupid, citing women who work in factories or walk hours to attend meetings of the women's movement, 'the
Gerwis and Gerwani: congress decides to change the name
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: short note that the recent congress of the Indonesian women's movement unanimously decided to change the name Gerwis to Gerwani, because 'Gerwis' (aware women) implied that only aware women could join, whereas every Indonesian woman should be able to become a member. Key evidence for the
On the plantations: Rie Lips tells about Indonesia
De Waarheid, 12 May 1954, p. 5: Rie Lips's account of her Java trip: plantation workers' wages (about 3 rupiah per day), child labour on tea and rubber estates, and volunteer village schools. Quotes the Gerwani congress appeal that those who can read should teach others; Soviet delegate Alexandra Kolopowa speaks; photo
WIDF commemorative booklet (Berlin, 1955) for its tenth anniversary: history from the 1945 Paris founding congress, peace and anti-atom campaigns, the 1953 Copenhagen Congress, children's work, the 1955 Lausanne World Congress of Mothers. Page 28 states that in Indonesia 'the women's organization which had 6,000 member
Pravda, 4 Jul 1955: Gerwani named in article on World Congress of Mothers (excerpt)
Keyword-hit excerpt of Pravda, 4 July 1955, from the article on preparing the World Congress of Mothers (Lausanne). Records that WIDF organisations established cooperation in Indonesia with 'the numerous women's organization Gerwani' and the plantation workers' union, alongside links in Australia, New Zealand, Norway,
Women's delegates speak at WIDF Council; Suharti, Gerwani vice-chairman (Renmin Ribao, 26 April 1956)
Xinhua report in Renmin Ribao, 26 Apr 1956 (p. 1), on day two of the WIDF Council meeting in Beijing, with speeches from Indian, German, Malagasy, Argentine, Soviet, Tunisian and British delegates. Suharti, WIDF Council member and vice-chairman of Gerwani, says Indonesian women's organisations are growing, oppose US ef
Women's delegates speak at WIDF Council; Suharti, Gerwani vice-chairman (Renmin Ribao, 26 April 1956)
Xinhua report in Renmin Ribao, 26 Apr 1956 (p. 1), on day two of the WIDF Council meeting in Beijing, with speeches from Indian, German, Malagasy, Argentine, Soviet, Tunisian and British delegates. Suharti, WIDF Council member and vice-chairman of Gerwani, says Indonesian women's organisations are growing, oppose US ef
Berliner Zeitung, 27 May 1956, p. 6: In June in Budapest ...
Berliner Zeitung, 27 May 1956, p. 6: women's column item "Im Juni wird in Budapest ..." ahead of the World Congress of Working Women. One short paragraph reports that the Indonesian women's organisation GERWANI demands a ban on child marriage, forced marriage and bride-purchase, an end to the ban on widows remarrying,
Sukarno: with two billion people's support Indonesia will win; West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 23 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 23 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Sukarno receives WIDF vice-president Maria Maddalena Rossi, invited to Gerwani's Third National Congress, and says two billion people back Indonesia on West Irian; second item reports Djuanda placing the West Irian struggle under the National Security Council and the D
Sukarno: with two billion people's support Indonesia will win; West Irian (Renmin Ribao, 23 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 23 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua, Jakarta): Sukarno receives WIDF vice-president Maria Maddalena Rossi, invited to Gerwani's Third National Congress, and says two billion people back Indonesia on West Irian; second item reports Djuanda placing the West Irian struggle under the National Security Council and the D
ACWF telegram to Gerwani supporting the West Irian struggle (Renmin Ribao, 24 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua): the All-China Women's Federation telegraphs Gerwani on 21 Dec congratulating it on its national women's congress and pledging that Chinese women fully support Indonesia's struggle to recover West Irian. Short solidarity item.
ACWF telegram to Gerwani supporting the West Irian struggle (Renmin Ribao, 24 December 1957)
Renmin Ribao, 24 Dec 1957, p. 6 (Xinhua): the All-China Women's Federation telegraphs Gerwani on 21 Dec congratulating it on its national women's congress and pledging that Chinese women fully support Indonesia's struggle to recover West Irian. Short solidarity item.
Hon. M.M. Rossi talks with the Indonesian President: interview with Sukarno (l'Unita, 31 December 1957)
Front page of l'Unità (PCI daily), 31 Dec 1957: special-correspondent interview by Maria Maddalena Rossi (UDI president, WIDF vice-president) with President Sukarno in Jakarta on 21 Dec. Rossi says she came for the WIDF to Gerwani's congress at Solo (23-27 Dec 1957) and conveyed WIDF solidarity; Sukarno discusses colon
l'Unita, 31 December 1957, p. 1: interview with Sukarno by M.M. Rossi (OCR text)
OCR text version of the same l'Unità front page (31 Dec 1957): Maria Maddalena Rossi (UDI/WIDF) interviews Sukarno in Jakarta on 21 Dec, saying she attended the Gerwani congress at Solo for the WIDF and conveying WIDF solidarity; Sukarno speaks on anti-colonialism and the 'four-legged horse' concept. Rest of page cover
IVth Congress of the Women's International Democratic Federation, Vienna, June 1958
WIDF volume on the IVth Congress, Vienna, 1-5 June 1958: speeches, reports and resolutions. Gerwani appears directly: Mudigdio, vice-president of Gerwani and head of the Indonesian delegation, speaks (pp. 89-92) for 663,740 members, citing equal-pay claims, the Third Gerwani Congress (December 1957), West Irian, work w
IVth Congress of the WIDF, Vienna, 1958 (Berlin Edition): Conference on the Rights of Women
Berlin edition of the WIDF IVth Congress (Vienna, June 1958) pamphlet on the conference 'Conditions which will enable woman to fulfil her role as mother, worker and citizen' (98 delegates, 55 countries). The Indonesian section (pp. 66-70) has Mudigdio, Gerwani vice-chair, urging a WIDF study or seminar on peasant women
Pravda, 18 Dec 1961: Fourth Gerwani Congress
Pravda no. 353, 18 December 1961 (full issue). Page 3 has a dispatch by correspondent O. Skalkin from Jakarta on the Fourth Gerwani Congress: 400 delegates from Java, Moluccas, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan; Sukarno's speech condemning anti-communism, backing NASAKOM and the West Irian claim, and praising Soviet support. N
Pravda, 18 Dec 1961: Fourth Gerwani Congress (excerpt)
Pravda no. 353, 18 December 1961 (excerpt of the page). Page 3 has a dispatch by correspondent O. Skalkin from Jakarta on the Fourth Gerwani Congress: 400 delegates from Java, Moluccas, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan; Sukarno's speech condemning anti-communism, backing NASAKOM and the West Irian claim, and praising Soviet s
International briefs: Gerwani national seminar on rural women (Renmin Ribao, 27 January 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 27 Jan 1961, p. 6, international briefs: Gerwani, 'Indonesia's largest women's organisation', held a national seminar on rural women, 17-20 January, with over a hundred delegates. It demanded abolition of colonial laws restricting women, land rights for rural women, a democratic marriage law, relief from
International briefs: Gerwani national seminar on rural women (Renmin Ribao, 27 January 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 27 Jan 1961, p. 6, international briefs: Gerwani, 'Indonesia's largest women's organisation', held a national seminar on rural women, 17-20 January, with over a hundred delegates. It demanded abolition of colonial laws restricting women, land rights for rural women, a democratic marriage law, relief from
Somogyi Néplap, 6 Oct 1961: WIDF Council in Budapest (Mudigdio of Gerwani)
Somogyi Neplap (Hungary), 6 Oct 1961, p. 1: report on the WIDF Council meeting in Budapest. Mrs Mudigdio, chair of Gerwani, said liberation of oppressed Asian and African peoples is hindered by the same forces opposing a German peace treaty. Also local Kaposvar preparations for the WIDF delegates. Other items unrelated
Tolna Megyei Népújság, 6 Oct 1961: WIDF Council session in Budapest (Mrs Mudigdio)
Hungarian provincial daily Tolna Megyei Népújság, 6 Oct 1961, reporting the WIDF Council session in Budapest. Mrs Mudigdio, chair of Gerwani, is quoted saying that the liberation of oppressed Asian and African peoples is hindered by the same forces opposing a German peace treaty. Other delegates (Kushida, Cotton, Popov
Guo Jian and others leave for Indonesia (Renmin Ribao, 6 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Dec 1961, p. 4 (Xinhua): Guo Jian, secretary of the All-China Women's Federation, and Zhang Jiexun leave Beijing for Jakarta at Gerwani's invitation to attend its Fourth Congress. Short departure notice.
Guo Jian and others leave for Indonesia (Renmin Ribao, 6 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 6 Dec 1961, p. 4 (Xinhua): Guo Jian, secretary of the All-China Women's Federation, and Zhang Jiexun leave Beijing for Jakarta at Gerwani's invitation to attend its Fourth Congress. Short departure notice.
Chinese women's federation delegation arrives in Jakarta (Renmin Ribao, 12 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 12 Dec 1961, p. 3: the All-China Women's Federation delegation led by Guo Jian arrived in Jakarta on 9 December, invited to Gerwani's Fourth National Congress opening on 14 December. Short notice.
Chinese women's federation delegation arrives in Jakarta (Renmin Ribao, 12 December 1961)
Renmin Ribao, 12 Dec 1961, p. 3: the All-China Women's Federation delegation led by Guo Jian arrived in Jakarta on 9 December, invited to Gerwani's Fourth National Congress opening on 14 December. Short notice.
NVB telegram to Gerwani on its Fourth Congress, December 1961
De Waarheid, 14 Dec 1961, p. 2: notice that Gerwani, affiliated with WIDF, holds its fourth congress in Jakarta on 14-17 December 1961, and the NVB's greeting telegram, signed by chair Heiltje de Vos and secretary Annie Averink, expressing solidarity in the struggle against colonialism, for transfer of West Irian to In