Keynotes of the Council Meeting: Unity and Confidence (Simone Bertrand, 1955)

=== [PDF page 1] === A view of the presidium at the W.I.D.F.’s fifth Council meeting, in Geneva. Keynotes of the Council Meeting — UNITY AND CONFIDENCE he forces of peace have recently been winning great victories — the fruit of persistent efforts. The wars were ended in Korea and Indo-China: fresh obstacles have repeatedly been placed in the way of rearming the West German militarists; there has been determined opposition to the use of atomic weapons; and the five principles of coexistence have triumphed in Asia. The W.I.D.F. and the national *women’s organizations, which have made an often substantial and always important contribution to these struggles, are playing a greater and greater part in the general democratic movement for peace and progress. The Council meeting held in Geneva in February demonstrated this development. The report presented by Angiola Minella, General Secretary, gave a rich and impressive list of achievements since the Copenhagen Congress and demonstrated most forcefully that more and more women of widely differing backgrounds, faced with difficulties and worried over the danger of war, have been joining in activities and taking part in the campaigns, organized by the W.1.D.F. in defence of children, of their rights and of peace. Significant progress is being made in uniting an ever greater number of women and drawing them into action; The Copenhagen Declaration of Rights has become the basis of great activity, and has enabled women, who are working to win and defend their political, economic and social rights, to become more clearly conscious of their role in society and of the contribution they can make to the struggle of their people. The report by our President, Madame Cotton, on the World Congress of Mothers, set the women of the by Simone Bertrand Assistant General Secretary of the W.I. D.P. whole world, and the women's movement, a new and sacred task. With deep feeling she spoke of the rights of mothers and explained the seriousness of their duty to their children and to humanity in face of the danger of atomic war. The initiative of the W.I.D.F. responds to the innermost feelings of millions of mothers, to their anxiety, and to their irrepressible determination to stop war. “Together”, says the Council Appeal, “we will act to defend life against death, friendship against hatred, peace against war, for nothing can stop us in our fight for the happiness and the future of our children”. This Council meeting brought together representatives from 45 countries and from all continents. A large number of delegations included delegates and guests belonging to organizations not affiliated to the W.1.D.F. This was the case with the delegations from séveral European countries (in particular West Germany, Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, France, Italy and Belgium), from some Latin American countries, and from the Middle East and North Africa. From the latter, six delegations included eminent women who were making their first contact with the W.I.D.F. Six African countries were represented. Most of the countries of the Far East, whose present activity in defence of peace is so outstanding, were represented; there were two big delegations from China and Viet Nam, five delegates from Japan, three from India, and two from Indonesia. The obstacles that make it difficult for some delegations to attend international meetings are very great, === [PDF page 2] === and it takes a lot of self-sacrifice and courage to overcome them. But confidence in the strength of solidarity in the struggle, the desire for happiness, the anxiety to take their place in the great fight the people are putting up for peace and democracy, galvanizes the women into facing not only the hazards of long journeys to unknown countries but also the dangers that often threaten them when they return home — repressive measures, persecution, and sometimes prison. Asia and Africa The Council gave fresh evidence of what was already apparent after the Copenhagen Congress — the substantial part being played by women from the countries of Asia and Africa. The women’s movement in those regions of the world where the peoples have to wage a hard fight to win or to preserve their independence, and where women are traditionally the most oppressed, are making new and prodigious advances. Millions of women, quite unassuming women, are awakening, organizing, and wanting to have a say in the life of their countries. It will suffice to cite a few facts and figures: The big Federation of Japanese Women’s Organizations includes nearly 40 organizations; the National Federation of Women of India is of a scale in accordance with that great country and includes a large number of peasant women; the Federation of Nigerian Women has over 200,000 members. The Federation of South African Women was created a year ago, bringing representatives of 250,000 women together. A remarkable example is provided by GERWANI, the national organization of Indonesia, the majority of whose members are peasant women and women plantation workers. Its. membership has gone up from 80,000 to 281,000 in the past year. Although such new and rapid advances cannot, of course, be recorded in the countries where organized women’s movements have already been in existence for many years, the Council meeting did reveal the growing prestige of the national women’s organizations, They are showing themselves more and more capable of recognizing women’s real. grievances, especially in the social and cultural spheres, and of taking up the defence of the family and of children; but it is also noteworthy that they are becoming more and more closely involved in the political life of their countries, taking a position on problems of national interest, and linking these problems with international problems. The Federation of Japanese Women's Organizations was one of the initiators of the big campaign for the prohibition of atomic weapons which has resulted in nearly thirty million signatures. The organization GER- WANI and nine women’s organizations in Indonesia set up a Committee to oppose the attempt to transform Western New Guinea into an American military base. The Federation of Indian Women has declared itself in support of the five principles of coexistence set out by Chou En-lai and Nehru, The women’s organizations in the Middle East are opposing the military pacts which would draw their countries into war. The Federation of South African Women is fighting for. democratic rights; and the Women’s organizations in the Sudan and Nigeria are demanding recognition of their peoples’ legitimate rights. The Democratic Organization of Cameroon Women has collected many! signatures on a petition protesting against the manufacture of atomic bombs and against the Paris Agreements, The Union of Argentine Women is conducting a campaign against the delivery of petrol to the American monopolies; the Women’s-Unity Committee of Chile is acting vigorously for a national plan for safeguarding the children _which is rallying all political sections; the Federation of Brazilian Women is participating actively in the movement for national independence, In Europe the important role played by the women’s organizations in France, Italy and West Germany against the remilitarization of West Germany is well known. Demonstrations by Austrian women helped to prohibit the. spectacular meetings of former Nazi soldiers. Norwegian women led the signature campaign in their country for a ban on atomic weapons. It is becoming usual for women’s organizations to appeal to their own governments and also other governments and even U.N.O. organizations when it is a question of demanding rights for themselves or for their peoples, or of supporting the rights of the women or the people in other countries. In the Soviet Union, China, and the People’s Democracies, millions of women are expressing themselves on the great international problems and supporting the wise peace policy of their governments. The place occupied by women in Soviet society, and the remarkable part played by Chinese women in the construction of the new China, shows that women and women’s organizations can make a considerable contribution to a country’s development. Increasing response Because the democratic women’s organizations are able to react to the anxieties of women, to help them defend themselves, to enlighten and to guide them, the women are increasingly seeking to take part in their activity. The Council meeting showed that the W.LD.F. and the national organizations are alert to the grievances and hopes of the new groups of women who are approaching them, and that they are seeking forms of activity which can enable them to participate in the struggle. The preparations for the World Congress of Mothers will result in a still greater development of unity among millions of women, who will be brought together in the sacred task of preventing war and preserving peace; they will give a new impulse to the struggle of women and to the development of the women’s organizations and the W.1.D.F. With confidence in the strength of their unity and in the W.I.D.F., women have started the work which will, if they have determination, guarantee the success of the World Congress of Mothers, and make it a great victory for the forces of peace,: