Appeal to the Women of Asia and Africa (WIDF Council, Peking, 1956)

=== [PDF page 1] === APPEAL to the women of Asia and Africa DEAR SISTERS This Council meeting of the Women’s International Democratic Federation held in Peking from 24th to 30th April 1 in the name of the millions of women it unites, sends you its warmest greetings, to you women who are courageously fighting against misery and ignorance, to you who are carrying out an active struggle for a better life for yourselves and your children You are playing a great role in the struggles and aspir: tions of your peoples to free themselves from colonial rule which you very well know is the main cause of your suffering With your active participation, the peoples of many countries have achieved freedom from colonial domination. These successes have inspired our sisters elsewhere in Asia and Africa who are not yet free, to take a greater part in the struggle to win their own liberation. We salute all our heroic sisters who are participating in the peoples’ fights for national independence and sovereignty. We greet all those who are rising with ater enthusiasm and demanding an end to colonial domination Peoples of Asia and Africa who have been successful in breaking the fetters of colonial rule are assuming the responsibility of safeguarding their newly-won independence, using to the full the resources of the nation and developing its culture. Women everywhere are united in a common desire to gain better conditions of life for the people, to achieve full rights for women and happiness for children, The colonial powers which have suffered defeats in Asia and Africa are introducing new methods to endanger freedom. With this aim racial and religious prejudices are exploited; people are uprooted from their homes and lands; preparation for war is continued; aggressive military pacts are imposed; military bases are established; so-called economic aid which carries with it political, economie and military conditions, is rendered; experiments with deadly nuclear weapons are carried out Such relaxation of international tension as has recently been achieved is endangered by all these things. 20 It is only in a peaceful world that the common desire of all women can be realised. We women everywhere oppose all aggressive pacts. Actions of women against the Baghdad and SEATO Pacts, all voices raising the ery ‘No more Hiroshima, Nagasaki or Bikini’, proves that we all have a deep concern for the preservation of peace. Your courageous fight against racial discrimination is supported by women all over the world. These, and many more actions demonstrate that no longer will you allow your destinies to be decided by colonial rulers. That is why women welcome the principles of the Bandung Conference which are based on peaceful coexistence. They also mean mutual respect, help and co-operation in a spirit of understanding and friendship. Sisters, ours is a tremendous task, but the ten Bandung principles open up vast possibilities for carrying forward our struggles. Through the application of these principles freedom can be achieved and safeguarded, economic and social progress can be made and the possibilities of preventing war and settling international disputes through peaceful negotiations will be increased Dear sisters of Asia and Africa, the women of the whole world are by your side supporting your just demands You have achieved or are beginning to achieve successes; you have proved what a tremendous force you are and you can become stronger. Wherever you work, in the home, in the fields or in the factories, in the markets or in offices; as teachers, nurses or doctors, we are united by a common interest. From this meeting we call upon you to unite and co-operate with all women in the common desires and activities for peace, our rights and the happiness of all children. We call upon you to work for the application of the Bandung principles. We call upon you to work for the strengthening of friendship of the women of the whole world. United we can go forward because the future is ours. Adopted unanimously Girls from all over Europe will visit Paris Ik A few weeks’ time Paris will welcome 300 girls representative of all the European countries, and a few from other continents These young girls of differing social status and from organisations with varying aims, will meet from July 4th to 8th to discuss problems of considerable concern to young people all over the world. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS CULTURE AND SPORT LITERATURE AND THE PRESS INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP AND CO-OPERATION In preparing for this meeting, the girls have the full support of their elder sisters and mothers, for the activity of girls is part of the women’s actions for their rights as women workers and citizens. Madame Cotton, President of the W.I.D.F., sent a message to the girls in which she wished them “the fulfilment of their dreams of peace and happiness.” We, here. greet this meeting with great confidence and joy, and are publishing a few excerpts from the letter received from Mlle. Renee Alexandre, responsible member of the Girls Commission of the World Federation of Demo cratic Youth. “The great Youth Festival for peace and friendship which took place in Warsaw, showed as did other festivals, the place that girls take and are called upon to take in present society fo fulfil its many hopes for the future our World Federation of Democratic Youth took the initiative, supported by a Sponsoring Committee in holding this meeting of the girls of Europe for peace and happiness, which reflects the interest of all honest people in the noble aspira tions of our teenagers “Young girls are extremely responsive to the examples set by their mothers, who with the consistent support of the W.I.D.F. are taking action for a better life and for peace. Of course we know that we can always count on_ the support of our mothers; let us thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this | On going to Press we lea | has been postponed to October NLAND a girls’ parwhich will discuss roblems and means yroving their life, followed by a big 1 exhibition of work and fashion raphic competi- V ITALY, groups of girls t 500,000 questionto their counterparts ory-gates, workshops chools, thus enabling to work out on a il and provincial scale a concret programme on their demands, against pov- ‘ and for disarmament IN HUNGARY, on march 8th, 1,600 young girls were lected from amongst the best workers, intellectuals, students and _ schoolgirls; ten of them were decorated, three by the Government IN ALBANIA the first Girls’ Conference studied how to bring about the full ition of young girls of their country. egram expressing their sire for peace and friendship for girls of the whole world was sent to the W.F.D.Y IN FRANCE, girls took part en masse in the traditional commemoration of Jean of Are and Danielle Casanova during ~=-May *Many commemorations have taken e under the banner peace and friendship, which the girls of France invited their German sisters as a fervent tribute to all of those women who gave their lives for the triumph of peace and happiness.” rn that this meeting 5th—28th. | TRAV JEWNES FILLES DEUROPE