国际妇联理事和特邀代表在会上的发言（摘要）（之一） (Speeches at the WIDF Council, part 1)

人民日报 Renmin Ribao, 1956-05-07, 第5版 (page 5)标题: 国际妇联理事和特邀代表在会上的发言（摘要） （之一）English gloss: Speeches at WIDF Council (part 1), incl. GerwaniSource: 人民日报图文数据库 (People's Daily database), via Columbia University Libraries; article URL http://data.people.com.cn/rmrb/19560507/5/4e1bd0332c5048de84a0634798a33381Retrieved 2026-10-17. Article text as given by the database; full-page scan follows (page image 5).国际妇联理事和特邀代表在会上的发言（摘要） （之一）【人民日报1956-05-07第5版在德意志联邦共和国境内的德国民主妇女联盟指导局委员　安妮·克雷尔夫人我选择了西德各阶层妇女所共同遭遇的三个问题到这里来讨论，这些问题引起了我们很大的注意，而且也曾广泛地讨论过，并且发动了许多运动。这三个问题是：１、裁减军备，禁止使用原子武器，阻止征兵和防空演习。２、物价和工资。３、民主权利问题。 所有的妇女和母亲，不分她们的政治见解和背景，通过母性，她们本能地感到亲近。她们都同样地愿意过尊严的生活，同样地需要有健康的家庭，并且能够把他们的孩子教育得具有高度的道德标准。今天在西德由于紧张的形势，这个工作进行得比我们想的还快。 具有重大意义的是劳动妇女以及各阶层的许多妇女不再只是模糊地想到德国的统一，而是她们越来越多地谈论着统一后的德国将是什么样子的问题。 因此越来越多地人们承认这个事实，即德意志民主共和国是未来德国的基础。 在这种局势下妇女要从困扰中找出路，因此，德意志妇女大会，母亲委员会，西德妇女和平运动和其他广泛的运动大大地成长起来。 军备问题，禁止原子武器，取消征兵和防空演习，物价和工资的问题以及实行民主制度等都是联邦共和国大多数妇女关心的问题。 使得妇女在这些问题上更好地团结起来是我们的工作，就是说，我们今后必须给予她们更多的机会采取共同行动，即使在开始时我们在一起只是解决一个问题。 最主要的是我们必须迅速地了解如何利用每一个有助于和平事业；改进生活条件的行动，给予它们支持，同时要有极大的耐心。 我们越能迅速地使妇女团结，我们就越容易取得在和平而斗争中的胜利，而这就是我们需要的一切。 马达加斯加　儒斯丁·拉内沃斯卡夫人我们这个岛国沦为殖民地已经快六十年了。在政治生活中特别在反对外国压迫者的斗争中，妇女都起着很重要的作用。妇女们在爱国战争中曾鼓励手拿武器捍卫祖国自由的战士，表现了无比的热情。以后，妇女仍继续参加了全国人民为争取独立自由的生活而进行的斗争。 因为马达加斯加妇女参加工作，所以，她们也参加社会生活。在农村，妇女和男人一样在生产上也起重要的作用。在城市，越来越多的妇女成了工人和职员。自从上次世界大战以来，马达加斯加男工人的经济收入是每况愈下了，这使得妇女们不得不积极参加工作。 现在，马达加斯加妇女正在为击退迫害、改善劳动妇女的生活，为了妇女在劳动中享有和男子平等的地位和足够的家庭津贴而努力。 阿根廷　玛格丽塔·德庞赛夫人我们和全国各地妇女接触的一个办法是在庆祝国际妇女节的时候举行“圆桌会议”讨论妇女问题。参加的有女工作家、教师、天主教信徒、圣文生·保罗会议的代表是家庭妇女和各党派妇女代表。这个共有二百人参加的讨论会在团结的气氛中进行，在讨论基本问题上大家取得了一致。 “圆桌会议”现已变成永久的组织。 由于我们希望继续加强我们的组织和吸取更多的妇女参加活动，我们把力量集中在这些主要方面——保卫和平、保护妇女和有关妇女儿童以及我们朋友之间组织文化活动的各项社会性质的活动中。 保卫和平的斗争是和我们全部工作分不开的。 世界母亲大会常务委员会第一次会议订出了通过保卫儿童的途径争取和平的具体任务。会后，我们成立了一个广泛的妇女委员会进行这些工作，委员会由我们组织的成员和非组织的成员组成。 我们知道目前最重要的是争取和平，所以，我们尽最大的努力争取裁减军备、禁止热核子武器和加强各民族间友谊的联系。 我们正在和阿根廷和平大会、保卫儿童联合会、阿根廷的女青年组织和工会独立民主化运动进行密切合作中。我们和工会的妇女委员会正在合作准备世界女工会议。阿根廷妇女联盟已向全国各地发出支持这个会议的号召。 印度尼西亚　苏哈尔蒂夫人去年举行的亚非会议关于反对各种形式的殖民统治的决定，关于反对使用毁灭人类后代的原子武器的决定，关于各国人民热爱文化的决定，以及关于在全世界各个人民和国家之间实行合作和增强友谊的决定，都表示出各国人民争取和平的真正愿望。 这些决定在所有人民的心中，特别是在憎恨战争，要求为她们的孩子和她们的家庭争取幸福的妇女的心中，得到了强大的响应。 印度尼西亚妇女运动协会和全体印度尼西亚人民一起，热烈地欢迎这个会议的决定，它向亚非各国人民，特别是妇女们呼吁，要她们积极为实施这些决定而努力。 在世界母亲大会举行以前，印度尼西亚妇女运动协会很成功地成立了一个全国性的筹备委员会，其中包括有各种妇女组织，这个委员会派出了一个由各界妇女组成的代表团出席在洛桑召开的世界母亲大会。在筹备大会的酝酿期间，筹备委员会印发了许多小册子和传单，并且通过报纸和无线电宣传。在大会召开之后，代表团作了一个关于她们观感的报告，这个报告就成为在各地进行讨论的基础。我们感到很愉快，印度尼西亚很荣幸地有三位代表参加了国际母亲常设委员会。 印度尼西亚妇女运动协会特别向亚非各国的朋友们呼吁，要求为争取民族团结，增进友谊，采取联合行动，以保证万隆会议所决定的民族独立、和平共处和我们家庭幸福的原则的实现。 象牙海岸　马·巴姆巴夫人自从弗吕芒斯·达尔美德向我们介绍了她在１９５５年在瑞士举行的世界母亲大会上获得的印象以后，象牙海岸的妇女逐渐认识到她们有权利在“人的社会”中获得地位。在我们出席母亲大会的代表作了报告以后，我们举行了好几次会议。这些会议的目的是成立各种妇女团体或推进妇女运动。 在全世界妇女正在组织起来或者已经组织起来取得她们应有的社会地位的时候，非洲妇女同她们的丈夫一样仍然在困难重重的情况下，为保卫结社权利而斗争。 在那些自由和和平已经不再只是梦想，而是活生生的现实的国家里，妇女和男子都有责任尽力支持他们处在强大的资本主义和垄断者统治下的兄弟姊妹们为争取和平、自由和幸福，也就是争取人的尊严所进行的斗争。 突尼斯　本·米拉夫人突尼斯由于全体人民一致的奋斗牺牲，今天制宪会议终于召开了。这不是一个人奋斗的结果，也不是一个党派奋斗的结果，而是突尼斯全体人民在最近几年来的胜利，他们真正象人一样地站起来，把他们的国家从殖民主义压迫者的手中解放出来。 如果说今天我们有了制宪会议，如果说今天殖民者已经承认突尼斯的独立权利，那也是由于我们人民和妇女贡献出自己最美好的一切，她们把对祖国的热爱放在第一位。妇女们参加游行示威，妇女们被监禁和流放，甚至她们亲眼看着自己的亲人遭到屠杀，她们仍然毫不犹豫地支援和接济着自己的军队。 在我国人民的斗争中，妇女所起的重大作用帮助了我们祖国赢得今天的胜利，我们同自己的兄弟们一起欢呼这个胜利。 在一个遭受了七十五年殖民统治好容易才获得解放的国家里，现在还有许多工作要做。所以我们要采取行动把我们所获得政治上的胜利转到使家家户户丰衣足食，有更好的住房，有可能不受社会的歧视而受到教育。 朋友们，在保卫妇女儿童的权利方面，我们妇女组织还有许多事要做。 我们不能忽视的另一件爱国工作是必须采取行动支持我们阿尔及利亚的姊妹们。 阿尔及利亚是我们的邻国，也是我们的兄弟国家。我们的种族、语言、宗教、传统的共同纽带把我们连结在一起。此外，我们反对殖民主义的共同斗争也把我们有力地团结在一起。今天，阿尔及利亚正为它自己的解放而斗争，我们怎能对他们的遭遇无动于衷呢！因此，我们必须支持我国政府采取步骤，决不让我们的国土成为镇压阿尔及利亚的军事基地。 英国　多拉·罗素夫人我们认为各国政府有责任协商和平，而不是制造战争。我们是母亲，就会设法使家庭和睦。母亲们要求世界的财富用于她们子女的生活，增加粮食供应、做衣服、造房屋，照顾她们的健康，设立学校和医院，训练教师和医生。因此，我们当母亲的认为——我们知道你们各位都这样认为——妇女必须也参加治理世界的事务，并且使她们的愿望遍及世界各地。我们必须不再把自己仅仅限制在照顾我们的丈夫和儿女，即使我们把这些做好了，如果我们不能努力制止战争，那么，这种工作又有什么用处呢？我们必须使母爱普照全世界。人类的前进，不是靠仇恨和压迫，而是靠思想、发明和友爱。当妇女到了年老的时候，常常会怀念她们的母亲，这倒不是因为母亲曾责罚过她们，而是怀念着母亲们对她们永远慈爱。这些品质，妇女都可以把它带到政治生活中来。我们有力量、有耐心、有毅力。无论我们是什么样的国家，是什么样的种族，社会制度和政治制度，如果我是真正的母亲，真正的妇女，那么，我们至少有一个共同点，就是对我们孩子的纯朴的挚爱和对他们安全与幸福深切的关怀。为了在妇女中间促进这种一致的努力，洛桑的国际母亲常设委员会准备了一个宣言。希望这个宣言能表明所有五大洲母亲的感觉、信念和愿望。并希望母亲们和全体妇女将会积极地支援它。 瑞士　绿蒂·缪蕾夫人争取和平的斗争，今天在我们国内具体表现为人民发起的、被称为“希瓦利埃运动”的大规模签名。这个运动要求削减军事费用，帮助瑞士和外国的社会事业。因为，特别是最近几年来军备竞赛在加速进行，瑞士联邦军事预算已经不堪负担。 许多方面都要求禁止热核子武器的试验和制造。 在我们工作的某些方面，还有这样的情况：事先就自认为一定会失败，因此就甚至于不打算同其他妇女团体交谈。我们的语言也往往还是过于生硬。幸而我们正在学习，逐渐学会使我们的语言和态度更接近瑞士妇女群众的见解。世界母亲大会、国际母亲委员会在这方面都对我们很有帮助，并且，我们认为国际民主妇联对于我们的积极扩大团结工作还可以给予更多的帮助。不仅给我们帮助，也给欧洲许多其他国家帮助，在那些国家里，国际民主妇联会员团体纵然比较强一点，但也同我们的处境差不多。 在洛桑举行的世界母亲大会对于我们起了很大的作用，它在我国各界妇女和全体人民中引起了不容争辩的反响，它的性质是很广泛的，而本来是可以更为广泛的。许多国家的、著名的各界人士出席了世界母亲大会。她们是重视召开这类会议的。 在母亲大会时期，我们在各处进行了种种接触，现在就要把这些接触保持下去和发展起来，就要摆脱致命的宗派作风，而宗派作风本身只是一种偷懒的解决问题的办法。 我们还在寻求如何真正地、并且实际地联系妇女，接触全体妇女。我们还在寻求如何真正地跳出人们一心要使我们处于孤立的境地。 以色列　多巴·约夫夫人自从１９５５年２月国际民主妇联在日内瓦召开会议以来，国际局势已经发生了重大的转变。在日内瓦四大国会议以后——这次会议导致了国际局势的缓和——全世界已开始感到轻松一些。全世界亿万人民都热烈地欢迎和平，他们在日内瓦精神的鼓舞下，看到了一个新时代的开端，这是一个呈现出和平与希望的幸福未来的时代。不幸的是，中东已经变成外国行使政治、经济和军事压力的区域，以便强使这些国家加入侵略性的巴格达条约，而中东各国人民却对这个条约表示憎恶。这种外国压力就是造成以色列和阿拉伯国家边境冲突的根本原因。 但是，我们必须满意地注意到阿拉伯各国和以色列的人民，对巴格达条约组织者的战争计划的反抗正在日益增长。在万隆会议以后，随着反对殖民主义的斗争的加强，随着中东阿拉伯各国人民对军事条约的反抗的高涨，争取民族独立、中立与和平共处的斗争业已增强，这种发展无疑地增加了我们国家之间获得和平的可能性。 毫无疑问，外国曾尽一切力量在以色列和阿拉伯国家的边境制造紧张局势，并且违反以色列人民的愿望，竭力使以色列投入反对阿拉伯国家的战争中，而这些阿拉伯国家是拒绝加入巴格达条约的。人民需要和平，需要建设，希望过富裕的生活。这就是为什么我们在妇女中所进行的解释工作得到了这样大的理解。我们要求政府放弃与美国签订军事条约的努力，而采取民族独立、和平与中立的政策。 在我们当中，已有越来越多的人民懂得和平、民族独立和中立的政策符合我国人民最高的民族利益。 我们深知我们的职责：我们向本届理事会保证，我们将全力的并全心全意地争取我国和我们邻国之间的和平。我们在这次理事会会议上向我们阿拉伯国家的姐妹们呼吁，让我们一起来保卫我们的儿童，我们的儿子和我们的国家的生命！没有用和平办法解决不了的问题。没有任何东西可以分裂我们，因为我们共同的目标是和平。以色列的信念是和它在中东的邻国以及亚洲国家的信念联系在一起的。 加拿大　雷·勒科克夫人加拿大妇女大会，加拿大民主妇女运动，充分认识到我们当前所处的世界局势。我们希望能够利用现在的缓和局面带动加拿大妇女沿着争取和平的道路前进，协助她们创造自己的命运，这样来启发她们认识自己的力量。我们最近向加拿大妇女发出号召，宣布我们愿意尽力促进和平和福利。 假如我们考虑到从加拿大到北京要走多远的路，可以说我来自遥远的地方，但是我们加拿大妇女同中国妇女以及世界上其他国家的妇女的希望是共同的，这样说来，我们却相距不远。我们在认识我们的价值和伟大力量方面是比较迟缓的。在我们的全世界姐妹们帮助之下，我相信加拿大妇女在为全人类争取和平前途和安全的共同努力中，一定会有良好的表现。 保加利亚　卓拉·德拉戈伊切娃夫人保加利亚人民共和国的对外政策是与各国人民和平友好的政策。保加利亚人民积极支持苏联、人民中国为扩大和加强各国人民间的友好联系和实际的合作而采取的保证持久和平和国际安全的和平政策。保加利亚人民也积极支持苏联政府关于裁军问题的建议。 这几年来我们国家和印度、缅甸、埃及、叙利亚、苏丹及其他国家建立了外交、经济和文化关系。 保加利亚人民将为加强世界和平与安全事业作更多的努力。 保加利亚人民和他们的政府认为在互利的条件下，各个社会制度和政治制度不同的国家之间的经济合作是可以进一步扩大，并且将能在进一步改善各国政府间关系和加强和平方面作出重要的贡献。 我们保加利亚妇女参加了祖国建设新生活的各项活动，并且在与全国各阶层妇女和妇女组织以及与外国妇女合作的事业上作出了贡献。 智利　胡丽叶塔·康普萨诺夫人最近几个月来，人类和平进步事业发生了重大的变化。 目前局势需要我们的全国性组织加速扩大活动范围。团结劳动妇女，农村妇女，自由职业的妇女和女知识分子，使妇女运动更加强大。 为了保卫各国人民的神圣权利，世界和平是必不可少的。我们必须在这方面更加努力。 整个人类必须和平共处，随时随地制止战争政策，这种思想在我国越来越坚定，越来越一致。 我们的团结工作使我们首都两个区都参加了母亲中央理事会，每一区大约有２，８００个妇女。我们在提出一个托儿所的提案时和这些妇女建立了联系。 此后，我们的工作又有了进展，我们使她们了解到我们斗争的目的。她们支持了世界母亲大会，并支持了我们的代表的费用。 德意志民主共和国　威廉明娜·希尔默·普勒什尔夫人我国人民深知他们对全体爱好和平的人民所负的义务，自从１９５４年以来，他们已经彻底消灭了德国帝国主义、法西斯主义和军国主义。他们进行了不懈的斗争，来反对一切复仇主义政策。他们坚持不懈地进行争取重新统一成为一个进步的和民主的德国的斗争，而且已经把我们的德意志民主共和国变成一个真正民主的国家和和平的堡垒。这样，就使得德意志民主共和国能够博得其他国家人民的信任。 五年以前，我国许多人、当然还有西德的许多人似乎认为我们的五年计划中所规定的目标是绝对不能实现的。但是由于我们的辛勤劳动，我们终于能够实现了这个目标。妇女们在完成五年计划方面发挥了巨大的作用，她们超额完成了她们在五年计划中应达到的目标。 我国妇女的觉悟有了巨大的改变，我们德国民主妇联不懈的工作对这种改变作出了决定性的贡献。 我们的新五年计划的目的在于达到世界水平，这个计划正在技术进步和掌握伟大的科学任务的口号下实施中，在和平利用原子能方面也是这样。 但是，对于我们最巨大的和重要的全国性的任务仍然是恢复我们国家的统一。对于完成这个任务，我们德国民主妇联必须以最负责任的态度来进行合作。一个分裂的德国将经常是欧洲的不安的地方，并且还造成经常存在的战争的危险。 我们德意志民主共和国的妇女满怀着对胜利的信心瞻望未来。因为我们认识到我们的五年计划创造着一切条件，可以使我们德意志民主共和国的生活成为西德人民所羡慕的生活。 通过这种方法，我们同时也完成着我们对全世界母亲们的责任——那就是帮助为全德国和全世界的儿童争取一个和平、充满阳光和幸福的未来。 相关报道：

=== [Page 1] === 人民日报 Renmin Ribao, 1956-05-07, 第5版 (page 5) 标题: 国际妇联理事和特邀代表在会上的发言（摘要） （之一） English gloss: Speeches at WIDF Council (part 1), incl. Gerwani Source: 人民日报图文数据库 (People's Daily database), via Columbia University Libraries; article URL http://data.people.com.cn/rmrb/19560507/5/4e1bd0332c5048de84a0634798a33381 Retrieved 2026-10-17. Article text as given by the database; full-page scan follows (page image 5). 国际妇联理事和特邀代表在会上的发言（摘要） （之一） Speeches by members of the WIDF Council and invited delegates at the meeting (abridged) (Part 1) [People's Daily 1956-05-07, page 5] Federal Republic of Germany – Mrs. Anni Krell, member of the leading bureau of the Democratic Women's League of Germany in the Federal Republic I have chosen to discuss here three problems shared by women of all strata in West Germany, which have drawn our great attention and have also been widely discussed and have set off many campaigns. These three problems are: 1. Arms reduction, banning the use of atomic weapons, stopping conscription and air-raid drills. 2. Prices and wages. 3. The question of democratic rights. All women and mothers, regardless of their political views and background, instinctively feel close through motherhood. They all equally wish to live with dignity, equally need healthy families, and want to bring up their children with high moral standards. Today in West Germany, because of the tense situation, this work is advancing faster than we thought. Of great significance is that working women and many women of all strata no longer think only vaguely about German unification, but increasingly talk about what a united Germany would be like. Therefore more and more people recognise the fact that the German Democratic Republic is the basis of the future Germany. In this situation women seek a way out of their perplexities, and so the German Women's Congress, the Mothers' Committee, the West German women's peace movement and other broad movements have grown greatly. The arms question, the ban on atomic weapons, the abolition of conscription and air-raid drills, the questions of prices and wages and the implementation of democratic institutions are matters of concern to most women in the Federal Republic. Our task is to unite women better on these questions; that is, we must in future give them more opportunities for joint action, even if at the beginning we are together only to solve a single problem. Above all we must quickly understand how to use every action that helps the cause of peace and improves living conditions, give it support, and at the same time have great patience. The more quickly we can unite women, the more easily we shall win victory in the struggle for peace, and that is all we need. Madagascar – Mrs. Justine Ranaivoseka Our island nation has been a colony for nearly sixty years. In political life, especially in the struggle against foreign oppressors, women have played a very important role. In the patriotic war women encouraged the fighters who took up arms to defend the freedom of the motherland, showing boundless enthusiasm. Afterwards women continued to take part in the whole people's struggle for an independent and free life. Because Malagasy women take part in work, they also take part in social life. In the countryside women, like men, play an important role in production. In the cities more and more women have become workers and employees. Since the last world war the economic income of Malagasy male workers has gone from bad to worse, which has forced women to take an active part in work. Now Malagasy women are striving to repel persecution and improve the life of working women, and for women to enjoy equal status with men at work and adequate family allowances. Argentina – Mrs. Margarita Ponce One way in which we make contact with women throughout the country is to hold "round tables" to discuss women's questions at the celebration of International Women's Day. Taking part are women workers, writers, teachers, Catholics, representatives of the St. Vincent de Paul conference, housewives and women representatives of the political parties. This discussion meeting, attended by two hundred people, proceeds in an atmosphere of unity, and on the discussion of basic questions everyone reaches agreement. The "round table" has now become a permanent organisation. Because we hope to continue strengthening our organisation and draw more women into activity, we concentrate our forces on these main areas – defending peace, protection of women, and social activities concerning women and children as well as cultural activities among our friends. The struggle to defend peace cannot be separated from all our work. The first meeting of the Standing Committee of the World Assembly of Mothers set concrete tasks for striving for peace by way of defending children. After the meeting we set up a broad women's committee to carry out this work, made up of members of our organisation and non-members. We know that the most important thing at present is to strive for peace, so we make the greatest efforts to win arms reduction, a ban on thermonuclear weapons and the strengthening of ties of friendship among peoples. We are working closely with the Argentine Peace Congress, the Federation for the Defence of Children, Argentine young women's organisations and the movement for independent democratisation of the trade unions. Together with the trade unions' women's committees we are preparing the World Conference of Women Workers. The Argentine Union of Women has issued calls throughout the country in support of this conference. Indonesia – Mrs. Suharti [苏哈尔蒂夫人] The resolutions of last year's Asian-African Conference against colonial rule in all its forms, against the use of atomic weapons that destroy the next generation of mankind, on the peoples' love of culture, and on cooperation and strengthening friendship among all peoples and nations of the world, all show the true wish of the peoples for peace. These resolutions found strong echoes in the hearts of all peoples, especially in the hearts of women who hate war and demand happiness for their children and families. The Indonesian Women's Movement Association [Gerwani, 印度尼西亚妇女运动协会], together with the whole Indonesian people, warmly welcomes the resolutions of this conference; it appeals to the peoples of Asia and Africa, especially women, to strive actively to implement these resolutions. Before the World Assembly of Mothers was held, the Indonesian Women's Movement Association successfully set up a national preparatory committee including all kinds of women's organisations, which sent a delegation of women of all circles to attend the World Assembly of Mothers convened in Lausanne. During the period of preparing the assembly, the preparatory committee printed many booklets and leaflets and publicised through newspapers and radio. After the assembly, the delegation made a report on their impressions, and this report became the basis for discussions in various places. We are very happy that Indonesia had the honour of having three representatives take part in the Standing International Committee of Mothers. The Indonesian Women's Movement Association appeals especially to friends in the countries of Asia and Africa to take joint action to strive for national unity and increase friendship, so as to ensure the realisation of the principles decided at the Bandung Conference – national independence, peaceful coexistence and the happiness of our families. Ivory Coast – Mrs. Ma. Bamba Since Flumence Dalmed [弗吕芒斯·达尔美德] told us of her impressions of the World Assembly of Mothers held in Switzerland in 1955, women of the Ivory Coast have gradually recognised that they have the right to a place in "human society". After our delegate to the Assembly of Mothers made her report, we held several meetings. The aim of these meetings was to set up various women's groups or advance the women's movement. At a time when women all over the world are organising or have already organised to win their due social position, African women, like their husbands, are still struggling under very difficult conditions to defend the right of association. In those countries where freedom and peace are no longer only dreams but living reality, women and men alike have a duty to do their utmost to support their brothers and sisters who live under the rule of powerful capitalism and monopolists in their struggle for peace, freedom and happiness, that is, for human dignity. Tunisia – Mrs. Ben Mila Thanks to the united struggle and sacrifices of the whole Tunisian people, a constituent assembly has finally been convened today. This is not the result of the struggle of one person or one party, but the victory of the whole Tunisian people over recent years, who really stood up like human beings and liberated their country from the hands of colonialist oppressors. If today we have a constituent assembly, if today the colonisers have recognised Tunisia's right to independence, it is also because our people and women contributed the best of themselves and put love of country first. Women took part in demonstrations, women were imprisoned and exiled, and even when they saw their loved ones massacred before their eyes, they still unhesitatingly supported and provisioned their own army. The great role played by women in our people's struggle helped our country win today's victory, and we hail this victory together with our brothers. In a country that has suffered seventy-five years of colonial rule and has only just won liberation, there is still much work to do. So we must act to turn the political victory we have won into having every household well fed and clothed, with better housing, and the possibility of education free of social discrimination. Friends, in defending the rights of women and children, our women's organisation still has much to do. Another patriotic task we cannot ignore is the need to act in support of our Algerian sisters. Algeria is our neighbour and also our brother country. The common bonds of our race, language, religion and tradition link us together. Moreover our common struggle against colonialism also unites us strongly. Today Algeria is struggling for its own liberation; how can we remain indifferent to their fate! We must therefore support our government's taking steps never to let our territory become a military base for suppressing Algeria. Britain – Mrs. Dora Russell We believe that governments have a duty to consult for peace, not to make war. As mothers we shall find ways to keep the family harmonious. Mothers demand that the world's wealth be used for the lives of their children – increasing the food supply, making clothes, building houses, looking after their health, setting up schools and hospitals, training teachers and doctors. Therefore we mothers think – and we know all of you think – that women must also take part in governing the affairs of the world and make their wishes felt all over the world. We must no longer limit ourselves merely to caring for our husbands and children; even if we do that well, if we cannot strive to stop war, what use is such work? We must make mother love shine over the whole world. Mankind advances not by hatred and oppression but by thought, invention and fraternal love. When women reach old age they often remember their mothers, not because their mothers punished them, but because their mothers were always loving to them. These qualities women can bring into political life. We have strength, patience and perseverance. Whatever country, race, social system and political system we belong to, if I am a true mother, a true woman, then we have at least one point in common, namely simple, sincere love for our children and deep concern for their safety and happiness. To promote this concerted effort among women, the Standing International Committee of Mothers in Lausanne has prepared a manifesto. It is hoped this manifesto can express the feelings, beliefs and wishes of mothers of all five continents, and that mothers and all women will actively support it. Switzerland – Mrs. Lotti Muret [绿蒂·缪蕾] The struggle for peace is today concretely expressed in our country in a large-scale signature campaign launched by the people, called the "Chevalley movement". This movement demands cuts in military expenditure and help for social causes in Switzerland and abroad. Because the arms race has been accelerating especially in recent years, the Swiss federal military budget has become unbearable. Many quarters demand a ban on the testing and manufacture of thermonuclear weapons. In some aspects of our work there is also the situation where, in advance, we consider ourselves bound to fail, and therefore do not even intend to talk with other women's groups. Our language too is often still too stiff. Fortunately we are learning, gradually learning to bring our language and attitude closer to the views of the mass of Swiss women. The World Assembly of Mothers and the International Committee of Mothers have both helped us in this respect, and we think the WIDF can give us still more help in our active work of broadening unity – not only to us, but to many other European countries, where member organisations of the WIDF, though somewhat stronger, are in a situation much like ours. The World Assembly of Mothers held in Lausanne had a great effect on us; it caused an undeniable response among women of all circles and the whole people in our country; its character was broad, and could have been broader still. Many famous people of all circles from many countries attended the World Assembly of Mothers. They attach importance to convening meetings of this kind. During the period of the Assembly of Mothers we made all kinds of contacts everywhere; now we must maintain and develop these contacts, and shed the fatal sectarianism, which is itself only a lazy way of solving problems. We are still seeking how truly and practically to link up with women and reach all women. We are still seeking how truly to leap out of the isolation that people are bent on keeping us in. Israel – Mrs. Doba Yoffe [多巴·约夫夫人] Since the WIDF met in Geneva in February 1955, the international situation has undergone an important turn. After the Geneva Conference of the four great powers – which led to a relaxation of the international situation – the whole world began to feel somewhat relieved. Hundreds of millions of people throughout the world warmly welcomed peace and, inspired by the spirit of Geneva, saw the beginning of a new era, one that presents a happy future of peace and hope. Unfortunately, the Middle East has become an area where foreign powers exercise political, economic and military pressure in order to force these countries to join the aggressive Baghdad Pact, while the peoples of the Middle East show their loathing of this pact. This foreign pressure is the root cause of the border clashes between Israel and the Arab countries. But we must note with satisfaction that the peoples of the Arab countries and Israel are increasingly resisting the war plans of the organisers of the Baghdad Pact. After the Bandung Conference, with the strengthening of the struggle against colonialism and the rising resistance of the Arab peoples of the Middle East to military pacts, the struggle for national independence, neutrality and peaceful coexistence has grown stronger; this development undoubtedly increases the possibility of peace among our countries. There is no doubt that foreign powers have done everything to create tension on the borders of Israel and the Arab countries, and, against the wishes of the Israeli people, strive to push Israel into war against those Arab countries that refuse to join the Baghdad Pact. The people need peace and construction and wish to live a prosperous life. That is why the explanatory work we have carried out among women has met with such great understanding. We demand that the government abandon its efforts to sign a military pact with the United States and adopt a policy of national independence, peace and neutrality. Among us more and more people understand that the policy of peace, national independence and neutrality accords with the highest national interests of our people. We know our duty well: we assure this Council that we shall strive with all our strength and wholeheartedly for peace between our country and our neighbours. At this Council meeting we appeal to our sisters of the Arab countries: let us together defend our children, our sons and the life of our countries! There is no problem that cannot be solved by peaceful means. Nothing can divide us, because our common aim is peace. Israel's convictions are linked with those of its neighbours in the Middle East and the countries of Asia. Canada – Mrs. Ray Lecocq [雷·勒科克夫人] The Congress of Canadian Women and the Canadian democratic women's movement fully understand the world situation in which we now find ourselves. We hope to use the present easing of tension to lead Canadian women along the road of striving for peace, to help them create their own destiny and so awaken them to an awareness of their own strength. We recently issued a call to Canadian women declaring that we are willing to do our utmost to promote peace and welfare. If we consider how long a road it is from Canada to Beijing, I might say I come from far away, but the hopes of us Canadian women are shared with Chinese women and the women of other countries of the world, so in that sense we are not far apart. We have been rather slow in recognising our worth and great strength. With the help of our sisters all over the world I believe Canadian women will certainly do well in the common effort to win a peaceful future and security for all mankind. Bulgaria – Mrs. Zora Dragoicheva [卓拉·德拉戈伊切娃] The foreign policy of the People's Republic of Bulgaria is a policy of peace and friendship with the peoples of all countries. The Bulgarian people actively support the peace policy adopted by the Soviet Union and People's China, ensuring lasting peace and international security by expanding and strengthening friendly ties and practical cooperation between peoples. The Bulgarian people also actively support the Soviet government's proposals on disarmament. In recent years our country has established diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with India, Burma, Egypt, Syria, the Sudan and other countries. The Bulgarian people will make still greater efforts for the cause of strengthening world peace and security. The Bulgarian people and their government consider that, on conditions of mutual benefit, economic cooperation between countries of different social and political systems can be expanded further and will be able to make an important contribution to further improving relations between governments and strengthening peace. We Bulgarian women take part in all activities of building a new life in the motherland and have contributed to cooperation with women and women's organisations of all strata in the country and with women abroad. Chile – Mrs. Julieta Campusano [胡丽叶塔·康普萨诺夫人] In recent months important changes have taken place in the cause of peace and progress of mankind. The present situation requires our national organisation to expand the scope of its activities more quickly: to unite working women, rural women, professional women and women intellectuals, and make the women's movement stronger. To defend the sacred rights of all peoples, world peace is indispensable. We must make greater efforts in this respect. The idea that all mankind must live in peaceful coexistence and stop policies of war everywhere at all times is becoming ever firmer and more unanimous in our country. Our unity work has brought two districts of our capital into the Central Council of Mothers, each district having about 2,800 women. We made contact with these women when we put forward a proposal for a nursery. Afterwards our work advanced further, and we made them understand the aim of our struggle. They supported the World Assembly of Mothers and supported the expenses of our delegate. German Democratic Republic – Mrs. Wilhelmine Schirmer-Pröscher [威廉明娜·希尔默·普勒什尔夫人] Our people well know their obligation to all peace-loving peoples; since 1954 [as in the source] they have thoroughly eliminated German imperialism, fascism and militarism. They have waged an unremitting struggle against every policy of revanchism. They persist in the struggle for reunification as a progressive and democratic Germany, and have already turned our German Democratic Republic into a truly democratic country and a bulwark of peace. This has enabled the GDR to win the trust of the peoples of other countries. Five years ago many in our country, and of course many in West Germany, seemed to think the targets set in our five-year plan were absolutely unattainable. But thanks to our hard work we were finally able to achieve this goal. Women played an enormous role in fulfilling the five-year plan; they overfulfilled the targets they were to reach in the plan. The consciousness of the women of our country has changed enormously, and the unremitting work of our German democratic women's league made a decisive contribution to this change. The aim of our new five-year plan is to reach the world level; the plan is being implemented under the slogans of technical progress and mastering great scientific tasks, including in the peaceful use of atomic energy. But our greatest and most important national task remains the restoration of the unity of our country. For fulfilling this task our German democratic women's league must cooperate in the most responsible manner. A divided Germany will always be a place of unrest in Europe and also a constant danger of war. We women of the GDR look to the future with confidence in victory, because we recognise that our five-year plan creates all the conditions for making life in the GDR one that the people of West Germany will envy. In this way we are at the same time fulfilling our duty to the mothers of the whole world – namely, helping to win a peaceful, sunlit and happy future for the children of all Germany and the whole world. Related reports: