Keiko Itokazu born Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan October 11, 1947. “Peace Guide.” Independent member of Japanese House of Councilors. Co-Chair, Okinawa Women Against Military Violence.
“We should spend our tax money on welfare, not war. Military bases don’t protect the human rights of women and children. They destroy the natural environment, and tear Okinawan peoples’ hearts apart.” (Women for Genuine Security, Jul. 2014; photo sangin.go.jp)
Clara Immerwahr born Polkendorff, Silesia, Germany June 21, 1840 (d. 1915). Pacifist; first German woman to obtain a PhD in chemistry, 1900. Killed herself after her chemist husband carried out first poison gas attack at Ypres.
“[Chemical warfare is] the perversion of the ideals of science [and] a sign of barbarity, corrupting the very discipline which ought to bring new insights into life.” (quote & photo Jewish Women’s Archive: Immerwahr)
Esther Ibanga born Nigeria April 18, 1982. Nigerian Christian pastor. Protested Jos massacres with peace march of 100,000 women and children, 2010. When killing continued, she joined Muslim woman leader Khadija Hawaja to found Women Without Walls Initiative, 2011; they led joint peace march with roses, 2014.
"We want to do away with the walls that divide and separate us, whether it's the walls of social class or the wall of ethnicity or the walls of religion. . . We really cannot join the politicians in this fight. We are mothers. We are life givers and we are solution bearers. And we think that we should bring solutions to the table, rather than dwell on the problem." (Public Radio Iinternational, Jan. 14, 2015)
Fusae Ichikawa born Aichi, Japan May 15, 1893 (d. 1981). Pioneering Japanese suffragist; founded first women's suffrage organization 1924; postwar member of Diet 25 years.
"[N]o equality without peace, no peace without equality." (photo Wikipedia)
Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah born Kolkata, India July 22, 1917 (d. 2000). Pakistani diplomat and author; PhD London; as delegate to UN influenced Human Rights Declaration and Genocide Convention.
"[I]t was imperative that the peoples of the world should recognize the existence of a code of civilized behavior which would apply not only in international relations, but also in domestic affairs." (1946, International Council on Archives, in Human Rights Working Group, 2011; photo Pakistan36odegree.com)
Immaculée Ilibagiza born Mataba, Kibuye, Rwanda January 14, 1972. Tutsi survivor of genocide 1994; stared down man with machete; forgave mother’s and brothers’ killers; Gandhi Award for Reconciliation and Peace 2007.
“The love of a single heart can make a world of difference. . . I knew that my heart and mind would always be tempted to feel anger—to find blame and hate. But I resolved that when the negative feelings came upon me, I wouldn't wait for them to grow or fester. I would always turn immediately to the Source of all true power: I would turn to God and let His love and forgiveness protect and save me.” (Left to Tell; photo immaculee.com)
Jahanara Imam born Sundapur, Murshidabad, West Bengal, British India May 3, 1929 (d. 1994). “Mother of Martyrs.” Led movement for trial of criminals of Bangladeshi War of Liberation 1971; author and teacher.
“This was a systematic attempt to destroy our cultural, political, economic and moral backbone—a genocide more horrifying than even that of Hitler's.” (UPI Sabir Mustafa, April 2, 1992)
“[T]here is no one more committed than the people. People are power. So I commit the responsibility of the fight to bring [the leader] Golam Azam and the war criminals of 1971 to justice and to continue to champion the Spirit of the Liberation War to you—the people of Bangladesh. For certain, victory will be ours.” (Last message, Women Contribution in Bangladesh, Dec. 8, 2008; photo Wikipedia)
Catherine Impey born Street, Somerset August 13, 1847 (d. 1923). British Quaker reformer and humanitarian; pioneer of transatlantic campaign against lynching; opponent of militarism: vegetarian; founded first British anti-racist paper Anti-Caste 1888; began anti-racist Society for the Recognition of the Universal Brotherhood of Man 1893; campaigned in US against lynching with Frederick Douglass; sponsored Ida B. Wells's tour of Britain.
"All arbitrary distinctions based on differences of social rank, [are] contrary to the mind of Christ." (Anti-Caste, p. 1, March 1888)
"The idea that colour has any place whatever in determining the place of members of the human family towards each other must everywhere be wiped out." (anti-caste gallery, Equiano Center, Univ. College, London; photo antiquarianbooksellersassociation)
Margareta Ingelstam born Edebo, Sweden May 30, 1937. Swedish educator, author, editor, and peace activist. Head of Swedish Christian Council, 1995-2002. Peace monitoring, South Africa, 1993-94; Network Forum for Peace Service, 1995-2006; EU program Building Culture of Non Violence; Postwar peacebuilding, Eastern Croatia, 1998 -2003. Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (SEAPPI), 2002-; Operation 1325, 2003 -current.
“Most conflicts have to be taken care of early before they become violent. . . Education should be the most important part of bringing peace to a community. People are ready to try nonviolent strategies.” (May 27, 2011, Kingston Ecumenical Conference; photo equmeniakyrkan.se)
Maya John Ingty born Assam, India March 16, 1933. Indigenous Karbi peacemaker.
Kathleen Royds Innes born Reading, England January 15, 1883 (d. 1967). Quaker; British WILPF leader; WILPF international co-chair, 1937; author and speaker on League of Nations and disarmament.
"Peace is a method and not a state and. . . under every system there will be causes for clash unless we remove the psychological causes." (WILPF Geneva Sept. 1934)
Tiina Intelmann born Tallinn, Estonia August 25, 1963. Estonian diplomat. First woman to head Assembly of State Parties, the oversight and legislative body of the International Criminal Court, 2011.
“Sadly enough, the modern human of the 21st century is still capable of committing atrocity crimes. Let us stand by the International Criminal Court as it is clearly showing signs of turning into an effective deterrent.” (Nov. 14, 2011; photo Guardian)
Aloisea Inyumba born Ugandan refugee camp December 28, 1964 (d. 2012). Rwandan senator. Minister of Family & Gender, 1994-99, 2011-12. Director, National Unity & Reconciliation Commission. Played key role in Rwandan recovery from genocide, overseeing the adoption of 500,000 orphans and the burial of 800,000 dead. Early member of Women Waging Peace Network.
“In most conflicts, women are hurt most, so women understand most the importance of peace.” (Inclusive Security blog, Dec. 7, 2012)
“People should understand that by working together you reap the benefits as a community. That is the philosophy of the peace basket: The Tutsi, Hutu, and the Twa women weaving the peace basket together. We are weaving something together; we are building something together.” (interview with Michael Franks, Nov. 5, 2011, umuvugizi; photo focus.rw)
Carolyn Tanner Irish born Salt Lake City, UT April 14, 1944. Episcopal Bishop of Utah 1996; anti-Iraq War epistle 2002.
"[T]his anniversary [of 9/11] also holds the danger of becoming a time to stoke our feelings of self-righteous indignation and a desire for revenge. It could, in other words, lead us to support the very kind of violence we have ourselves so recently suffered." (Sept. 4, 2002; photo octanner.org)
Isabel of Brazil (née Bragança) born Rio de Janiero, Brazil July 29, 1846 (d. 1921). “Redemptress” abolitionist Regent pressed for and signed “The Golden Law” abolishing slavery 1888; peacemaker, ended long war with Paraguay 1872; settled disputes with US and Great Britain.
“From this date, slavery is declared abolished in Brazil.” (Art. 1)
“God aided me, my children, in acting entirely in accord with my conscience. I debated with myself again and again, but I did everything with ease, to the extent that, later on when all was concluded, I was amazed at the encomiums I received for my courage, the wisdom I showed, and the greatness of the undertaking.” (Roderick Barman, Princess Isabel, p. 184; photo pinterest)
Gulalai Ismail born Peshawar, India October 30, 1986. Co-founded Aware Girls to assert women’s rights, 2002; founded Seeds of Peace to promote women’s promotion of peace, 2010.
“Peace is not just the absence of war, it is about respect and tolerance—and women have an important role in educating their children.” (The Guardian, May 16, 2011; photo interplay.unoy.org)
Toini Hjelt Iverson born Helsinki, Finland December 13, 1894 (d. 1973). Teacher; founder of local Fellowship of Reconciliation, Finnish Peace Union, 1920; WILPF of Finland; assisted war refugees.
Molly Ivins born Monterrey, CA August 30, 1944 (d. 2007). Antiwar journalist and columnist opposed Iraq War.
"Good thing we won the war, because the peace sure looks like a quagmire." (Oct. 7, 2003)
Her last words, on expansion of the Afghan War: "Stop it, now!" (Jan. 12, 2007; photo Wikipedia)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
