1948 – 2012
De Waarheid report (24 Jul 1948) on a Perhimpunan Indonesia group of Indonesian workers and students performing dances and songs in Paris and Saint-Denis at WIDF invitation during its women's exhibition. An Indonesian woman greeted French women; the piece notes Kowani is a WIDF member. No Gerwis/Gerwani and no named In
Short De Waarheid report (3 Dec 1948) on the opening of the second WIDF congress in Budapest, attended by President Szakasits and the Hungarian government. Chinese and Soviet women were cheered; delegates from Vietnam were denied visas and women from Indonesia, Iran and Argentina were still awaited.
De Waarheid call (5 Mar 1949) for Dutch women to demonstrate on International Women's Day for peace: against the colonial war in Indonesia, the Marshall Plan and Atlantic Pact, for troop withdrawal and equal pay, with Soviet women held up as models and WIDF president Cotton quoted. Concerns Dutch communist women; no In
CIA information report, April 1949 (catalogued 18 April): 'The WIDF in the Far East'. Lists delegates at the WIDF Council's first session (Paris, Feb 1947) and traces WIDF contacts in China, Malaya, Hong Kong and Singapore, a proposed 1948 fact-finding commission on women in India, Indonesia and elsewhere, and plans af
De Waarheid report (20 Apr 1949) on the opening of the World Peace Congress in Paris, where Joliot-Curie greeted delegations from China, Spain, Greece, Vietnam and Indonesia, protested French refusal of 380 visas and noted women's role in peace. WIDF chair Cotton sat on the platform. No Indonesian delegate or Gerwis/Ge
De Waarheid page (25 Apr 1949) with a report on fighting in Sumatra (Dutch landing at Indrapura, Republican scorched-earth) plus speeches from the Paris World Peace Congress. WIDF chair Eugénie Cotton says millions of women are fighting in China, Greece, Indonesia and Spain. No Indonesian women are named.
OSS/State Department intelligence report (1 Aug 1949) on the Women's International Democratic Federation as a communist front: origins in the Soviet Anti-Fascist Committee of Women, 1945 Paris founding, leaders (Cotton, Popova, Ibarruri, Cai Chang), membership claims and Asia activities. Indonesia is mentioned only in
De Waarheid column "Our Strength" by L.B. (25 Nov 1949) on the WIDF Council meeting in Moscow (15-20 Nov) and the 1948 Budapest congress, reflecting on women's unity and the daily struggle of a Dutch communist housewife. Indonesia appears only in a list of women's liberation struggles.
Short De Waarheid item (2 Jun 1950): WIDF president Eugénie Cotton, also head of the Union of French Women, was accused over a poster urging French mothers not to let under-age sons enlist for Vietnam; the paper compares it to Dutch women's action against the Indonesian war and calls for protest letters. No Indonesian
Femmes du monde entier no. 50, January 1951, the French-language WIDF bulletin issued from Berlin. Editorial and reports urge women to back the Second World Peace Congress's address to the UN: Korea, Formosa and Vietnam, banning mass-destruction weapons, colonial oppression (Madagascar, Vietnam, South Africa), war prop
WIDF pamphlet (Berlin, Dec 1952) surveying women's political rights, wages, unemployment, education, rural conditions and social protection country by country, and issuing the Call to the World Congress of Women (Denmark, June 1953). Indonesia appears briefly: equal rights on paper under the 1950 Constitution, no elect
WIDF Executive Committee message (1952) calling women worldwide to prepare for the Congress of the Peoples for Peace, Vienna, 5 December 1952, and to demand an end to the Korean war, arms reduction, banning of atomic and bacteriological weapons, and a Pact of Peace. Signatories include Eugénie Cotton and others; Darmin
Front page of Literaturnaia Gazeta, 10 June 1952, carrying a World Peace Council Bureau statement defending the French peace movement. Signatories include 'Mrs. Suwarti (Indonesia), member of parliament' (Gerwis/Gerwani leader Suwarti), alongside Joliot-Curie, Eugenie Cotton (WIDF), Brecht and Neruda. Also notes the Pe
Pravda p. 3, 22 July 1952: TASS reports from the 13th session of the WIDF executive committee in Bucharest and a mass women's meeting addressed by Eugenie Cotton. Darmini (Indonesia) is listed among debaters on Carmen Santi's report on child defence; national committees reportedly formed in Indonesia. Content of Darmin
Report volume (WIDF, Berlin, 1953) on the World Congress of Women, Copenhagen, 5-10 June 1953: reports, speeches, documents, resolutions and the officers elected. Gerwani and Gerwis are not named. Indonesia appears in the congress report (p. 4), which says its 10 delegates and observers came from six organisations, one
De Waarheid, 10 Jun 1953, p. 5: air-mail report from Copenhagen on the Third World Congress of Women (WIDF): 1,700 delegates from over 80 countries, opened by Eugenie Cotton, with speeches by Chinese and Soviet delegates and a Dutch delegate. Delegates from Korea, Malaya and Vietnam were refused entry. Indonesian deleg
Izvestiia, 11 Jun 1953, p. 3. TASS and correspondent reports from the Copenhagen World Congress of Women. Indonesian women's moment: a Dutch delegate greeted Indonesian women, and Mrs Van Staveren, whose son refused to fight in Indonesia and was jailed for seven years, handed his portrait to Indonesian delegate Surasto
Sunday Worker, 28 June 1953, p. 12: account of the WIDF World Congress of Women in Copenhagen, describing delegates in the lobby (including 'exquisite Indonesians') and calls for peace. A moving scene has Indonesian and Dutch women embracing after a Dutch delegate said her people fought for liberty everywhere; Vietnam,
Soviet Woman, 31 Dec 1953, pp. 49-52: WIDF declaration for peaceful settlement and Eugenie Cotton's statement, then Marie-Claude Vaillant-Couturier's 'We are stronger than ever' on follow-up to the Copenhagen World Congress of Women. One sentence notes the Indonesian women's union GERWIS would hold its congress in Dece
WIDF pamphlet 'I Want To Live' (Berlin, May 1954) campaigning to ban atomic weapons after the March 1954 Bikini H-bomb test, with Hiroshima testimonies, the Stockholm Appeal and WIDF appeals. Page 25 cites a resolution of 1 April 1954 in Jakarta by the National Congress of the 'Indonesian Women's Democratic Organisatio
WIDF 1954 article compiling women's campaigns against atomic and hydrogen bombs after Bikini, with excerpts from Eugénie Cotton and the WIDF Executive appeal (Geneva). Countries covered include Britain, US, Japan, Germany, India; the Indonesia entry apparently refers to a national women's congress of 349 delegates dema
Bintang Timur (Jakarta daily), 29 May 1954, p. 2 of a multi-article issue; only one item concerns Gerwani. Its central board (DPP Gerwani), speaking for 80,000 members, protests to the UN against ECOSOC's removal of the WIDF from consultative status, citing a letter from WIDF president Eugenie Cotton, and demands reins
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
Simone Bertrand, WIDF Assistant General Secretary, reports in 1955 on the Fifth WIDF Council meeting in Geneva (45 countries). She cites GERWANI as a remarkable example: mostly peasant and plantation women, membership up from 80,000 to 281,000 in a year, and with nine organisations it formed a committee opposing a US b
Chinese-language transcript (scan, noisy OCR; English translation read) of a conversation between Zhou Enlai, Deng Yingchao and Eugenie Cotton, WIDF president, 22/23 May 1955 (Wilson Center Digital Archive). They discuss women's role in peace, the planned World Mothers' Congress in Paris, Franco-German reconciliation a
Wilson Center Digital Archive catalogue page (text only, no transcript) for the 23 May 1955 conversation between Zhou Enlai, Deng Yingchao and WIDF president Eugenie Cotton, from Zhou Enlai Waijiao wenxuan (1990), pp. 140-148. The abstract notes Cotton's pleasure with her China visit, her call to unite women's federati
Neues Deutschland, 7 July 1955, p. 5: article 'Frieden und Glück für die Kinder aller Mütter' (signed E. T.) on the opening of the World Congress of Mothers in Lausanne. Indonesia appears only once, in a list of countries where preparatory committees were formed. No Indonesian women, Gerwani or other named Indonesians
Neues Deutschland, 3 December 1955, p. 1. ADN report 'Rechte der Frauen unantastbar' on the festive rally for the 10th anniversary of the IDFF (WIDF) in the Deutsche Sporthalle, Berlin, with 3,000 women. Indonesia appears only in a list of countries whose WIDF representatives attended; no Indonesian is named and Gerwan
WIDF Council (Peking, 24-30 April 1956) 'Appeal to the Women of Asia and Africa', with a side item on a European girls' conference in Paris. The appeal salutes anticolonial struggles, welcomes the Bandung principles, and opposes the Baghdad and SEATO pacts and nuclear tests. Indonesia and Gerwani are not named.
FBIS-monitored Xinhua report (7 Mar 1956): a Peking women's rally on the eve of International Women's Day sent greetings to WIDF; the All-China Democratic Women's Federation sent messages to women's groups across Asia and Africa. Includes a message to Wanita Indonesia (Indonesian Women's Congress and the Indonesian Wom
Renmin Ribao, 25 Apr 1956 (p. 4), descriptive report on the opening (24 Apr) of the WIDF Council meeting in Beijing: Presidents Mrs Gordon and Cai Chang, Deng Yingchao welcoming Egyptian, Israeli and Indonesian delegates, and Angiola Minella's report on peace, nuclear tests and Asian-African women after Bandung. It cla
Renmin Ribao, 25 Apr 1956 (p. 4), descriptive report on the opening (24 Apr) of the WIDF Council meeting in Beijing: Presidents Mrs Gordon and Cai Chang, Deng Yingchao welcoming Egyptian, Israeli and Indonesian delegates, and Angiola Minella's report on peace, nuclear tests and Asian-African women after Bandung. It cla
WIDF magazine 1957 report on the WIDF Council meeting in Helsinki, 22-27 June 1957: Finnish hospitality, Palace of Culture built by volunteer labour, reports by Eugénie Cotton, Branca Fialho, Molly Keith and Elisa Uriz, a new draft constitution and call to the Fourth Congress, and resolution on nuclear tests and women'
CIA compilation of reference data (February 1957, data to 1 October 1956) on international communist-front organisations and friendship societies, including the Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF). The WIDF directory lists headquarters, publications, executive officers and national affiliates. Under Indo
Neues Deutschland, 25 June 1957, p. 5: ADN/ND report 'Frauen bereiten Weltkongreß vor' on the WIDF council session in Helsinki (270 delegates, 46 countries; president Eugénie Cotton). Indonesia appears once: women from Indonesia and other countries reported on their work, difficulties and successes. No name is given an
Document pack of the WIDF Fourth Congress, Vienna, 1-5 June 1958: Eugenie Cotton's report on women's role, the Manifesto, resolutions on peace, women's rights and children, appeals to the UN, credentials report and constitution. Indonesia appears in passing: Cotton credits 'the Indonesian Women's Movement' with improvi
CIA/US government study (September 1958) surveying the activities of the international Communist fronts (World Peace Council, Afro-Asian Solidarity Council, WFDY/IUS, WIDF, WFTU and others) in 1958. Chapter IV covers WIDF's Fourth Congress (Vienna, 1-5 June 1958) and secretariat. Gerwani appears only briefly: Suharti (
Tribune magazine page, 1 Oct 1958, p. 6: Mary Lester (Union of Australian Women, Perth) reports on the Fourth World Congress of Women (WIDF, Vienna, June 1958; 76 countries). Themes: atomic-test ban, status of women, children's education. Indonesia appears only in passing: two women MPs from Indonesia, with Indian and
Tribune magazine page, 1 Oct 1958, p. 6: Mary Lester (Union of Australian Women, Perth) reports on the Fourth World Congress of Women (WIDF, Vienna, June 1958; 76 countries). Themes: atomic-test ban, status of women, children's education. Indonesia appears only in passing: two women MPs from Indonesia, with Indian and
Fifth issue of Api Kartini (1959). Cover profile of WIDF president Eugenie Cotton; Umi Sardjono cited on 235 Gerwani TK Melati kindergartens in Java; also Sumpah Pemuda editorial, ethnography of the Tengger, recipes and child-health advice.
Api Kartini preview of the WIDF Bureau meeting due in Indonesia (early 1960), profiling its leaders: President Eugenie Cotton, Secretary-General Carmen Zanti, Marie Ange, Beatrice Johnson and Asian-African vice-presidents. Notes WIDF's support for Indonesian independence and condemnation of Dutch aggression, and that G
Article by Sulami (1959) reporting on the WIDF Bureau meeting in Prague, chaired by Eugenie Cotton, and the Council with 51 countries. It stresses women's duty to protect children, supports disarmament and Soviet-US talks, backs the 50th anniversary of International Women's Day, and links peace to Indonesian national i
First issue of Api Kartini's second year (Jan 1960). Editorial on price rises after the currency sanering and ministers refusing housewives' delegations; a profile of WIDF leaders (Carmen Zanti, Eugenie Cotton) ahead of the WIDF Bureau meeting in Indonesia.
Api Kartini article (1960) by Maasje Siwi, an Api Kartini staff member who attended the WIDF Council in Warsaw (29 Nov-5 Dec 1960), marking the WIDF's 15th anniversary. Delegates from 61 countries heard Eugenie Cotton review WIDF history (1948 manifesto, 1953 Copenhagen congress, 1955 Lausanne mothers' congress, 1958 V
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
WIDF proceedings of the World Gathering of Women for Disarmament, Vienna, 23-25 March 1962 (300 women, 59 countries): Eugenie Cotton's introductory report, adopted appeals, and a list of participants. The Asia section lists two delegates 'representing the Indonesian Women's Movement (GERWANI)': Mrs Ana Abdulrachman and
Pravda no. 182, 1 July 1963 (full issue). Page 4 prints the WIDF programme adopted at its Moscow congress (29 June 1963): equal rights, peasant women, children, peace, national independence, solidarity with persecuted women. It lists the new Bureau, which includes Umi Sardjono (Indonesia, spelled 'Umisa Sardjono'). Eug
Chinese-published pamphlet (Foreign Languages Press, Peking, 1963) with statements and a report by Yang Yun-yu attacking Soviet and WIDF leaders at the June 1963 Moscow World Congress of Women over anti-imperialism versus disarmament and peaceful coexistence. It records the Indonesian delegation, led by Umi Sardjono, s
WIDF publication on the World Congress of Women, Moscow, 24-29 June 1963 (1,543 women, 113 countries): reports, speeches, resolutions and the new WIDF council list. Gerwani is mentioned briefly: its roughly 1,000 day nurseries for working mothers are cited as a model; its role in the West Irian campaign is praised; and
Page from a US JPRS volume (Translations on the People's Republic of China, Oct-Nov 1963) summarising Chinese press reports on the June 1963 WIDF World Congress of Women in Moscow. Indonesian women's leader Parjani Pradono is quoted calling the WIDF programme 'devoid of revolutionary essence' and describing the Indones
Moscow News (English), 29 June 1963, p. 6: report on the WIDF World Congress of Women in Moscow (June 1963), with abridged report by President Eugenie Cotton and sessions on peace, colonialism, children's welfare and women's rights. Umi Sardjono (Indonesia), WIDF Vice-President and Gerwani chair, read greetings from J.
Soviet Woman, 31 Jul 1963, p. 44: WIDF programme adopted at its 1963 Moscow World Congress of Women, with an issue preview and the list of elected leaders. Eugenie Cotton re-elected president. Umi Sardjono (Indonesia) is named among Bureau members, with Freda Brown (Australia), Vilma Espin and others.
Soviet Woman, 30 Sep 1963, pp. 6-8: delegates' reports on the June 1963 World Congress of Women in Moscow: Fuki Kushida (Japan) on Tereshkova and the congress, Lotte Ulbricht (GDR) on a German peace treaty, Gondo Kikue on 'stitches for peace' banners, and Thamina Salam Adel's testimony on Ba'ath terror in Iraq. Umi Sar
Short FBIS item from TASS (8 Jun 1964): the Liaison Bureau Presidium set up at the 1960 Copenhagen women's meeting opened in Moscow (8-12 June) with Eugenie Cotton (WIDF), Popova (Soviet women's committee), and Hurustiati Subandrio, chairman of the Indonesian women's congress (Kowani), among others. Context for Indones
Sovetskaia Kirgiziia, 16 Mar 1965, p. 3: page of TASS items on Vietnam war protests. Quotes a Gerwani statement, said to speak for over 2 million members, condemning US bombing of the DRV as 'a crime against humanity'. Also reports Indonesia withdrawing from the New York World's Fair over US support for Malaysia. Other
Full May 1965 issue of Women of the Whole World (WIDF), a commemorative number for the 20th anniversary of victory over Nazism: women in the resistance, wartime memoirs and Sholokhov's story, Coventry, Leningrad, Warsaw, Lidice-type massacres, Dresden and Hiroshima, plus peace, Vietnam and anticolonial pieces. Indonesi
Issue of New Age, weekly organ of the Communist Party of India, 21 November 1965 (Vol. XIII No. 47; OCR very rough). Mainly Indian politics (Shastri, US food blackmail, Indo-Soviet friendship, Bangalore peace conference). It reports the WIDF Council session in Salzburg (24-27 Oct 1965, 20th anniversary), where a Chines
Neue Zeit, 27 November 1965, p. 4 (women's page): 'Die Kraft liegt in der Einigkeit', a history of 20 years of the WIDF (IDFF). Indonesia appears once, in a list of imperialist armed aggressions (Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaya, Korea) against which the WIDF organised protests. The article also stresses the DFD's role and I
Activity report by WIDF General Secretary Cecile Hugel to the Sixth WIDF Congress, Helsinki, 17 June 1969. Covers Viet Nam and Middle East solidarity, Latin American seminars, UN consultative status regained, and future plans. Page 8 notes WIDF's concern for 'democratic men and women in Indonesia', a telegram to Genera
WIDF 1969 Sixth Congress documents (Helsinki): auditing committee financial report and General Secretary Cécile Hugel's report on activities since 1963. Mostly Vietnam, Middle East and Latin America; Hugel notes WIDF's concern for 'democratic men and women in Indonesia', its telegram to Suharto, and that nothing had be
Published proceedings of the 7th Congress of the Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF), Berlin, 26 October 1975: opening and general-secretary addresses (Aruna Asaf Ali, Fanny Edelman), the report on WIDF work since the 1969 Helsinki congress, finance and credentials reports, the Prospective Plan to 1980 a
Francisca de Haan's article (German, Feministische Studien 2009) on the WIDF's early years 1945-50: founding congress in Paris, leaders Cotton, Ibarruri and Popova, and the destruction of the US affiliate by HUAC. Background on the federation Gerwani later joined.
Overview essay by Francisca de Haan (Women and Social Movements International database, c. 2012) on WIDF's origins, agenda, UN role and Cold War marginalisation, 1945-1991. Gerwani is listed once as a large, influential WIDF member organisation (with footnotes to Wieringa and to McGregor on Indonesian women and WIDF);