Agathe Uwilingiyimana born Nyarahengeri, Rwanda May 23, 1953 (d. 1994). Math and science teacher. First woman Prime Minister, Rwanda, 1993. Achieved Arusha Accords for peace, 1993; first victim of genocide.
“They are coming to kill me and my family. Please tell the world to help us against these murderers.” (last words, Khan, Shallow Graves, p. 17; photo one voice of the world)
Caroline Urie (née Foulke) born Indiana July 27, 1873 (d. 1955). Quaker tax-refuser; widow of WWI naval officer. Gandhian pacifist; socialist; anti-militarist. Studied with Maria Montessori, whose method she introduced at Jane Addams’s Hull House as teacher of immigrant children.
“As a Christian, I must henceforth refuse to contribute in any way to maintaining the institution of war. . . I’m perfectly willing to go to jail. I’ll never pay any more money for war.” (Mar. 14, 1948, The Picket Line)
“War preparation in the atomic era is a crime against nature.” (Three Minor Forteans; photo sniggle.net)
Dubravka Ugrešić born Kutina, Croatia, Yugoslavia March 27, 1949. Croatian writer. Opposed Balkan War and militant nationalism, 1991; exiled 1993; opposed NATO bombing.
"For all those years I couldn’t find an answer to some simple questions—how it’s possible that people could allow themselves to be so manipulated as to go killing people with whom they lived side by side, and destroying everything they had built together." (Svetlana Boym interview, Bomb Magazine, summer 2002)
"Nationalism is like a pesticide: its poison lasts longer than one season and it penetrates everywhere—into literature, culture. . . nationalism, be it right or left, is in my view is only a euphemism for fascism." (Michael Zelenko interview, The Rumpus, January 2010; photo werliestwo.ch)
Liv Ullmann born Tokyo, Japan December 16, 1939. Norwegian actress and director; UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, 1980-2000; vice-president International Rescue Committee; co-founder Women's Refugee Commission, 1989; recipient of Hammarskjold Medal for contribution to UN, 1985.
"We all have the same deep thoughts and feelings. Opening up to them makes a bridge between people."(Doe Lang 1994; 2000 photo by Rita Molnar, wikicom pd)
Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza born Gatumba, Rwanda October 3, 1968. Hutu human rights activist. Pleaded for reconciliation after genocide. Organized Forum on Peace and Security in the Great Lakes, 2004. Arrested, 2010; convicted on charges of terrorism and genocide denial, 2012; sentenced to eight years in prison, later extended to 15. Awarded Sakharov Human Rights Prize of European Parliament, 2012.
“It is clear that achieving reconciliation has a long way to go. . . In order for us to get to that desirable reconciliation, we must be fair and compassionate towards every Rwandan’s suffering. . . It is finally very important for all of us Rwandans with our different ethnic backgrounds to understand that we need to come together in unity and with mutual respect in order to develop our country peacefully.” (Rwanda Info, Jan. 19, 2010; photo Wikipedia)
Evelyn Underhill born Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England December 6, 1875 (d. 1941). Pacifist theologian; mystic; poet and novelist.
"To defeat the power of evil by the health-giving power of love and thus open a channel for the inflow of the creative grace of God is therefore the only struggle in which the realistic Christian can take part. No retaliation. No revenge, national or personal. No 'defensive wars'—i.e., destroying our brother to prevent him from destroying us." (Church & War 1940; photo wikicommons pd)
Trude Unruh (née Kremer) born Essen, Germany March 7, 1925. Co-founder of the Green Party, supporting the environment, human rights, a nuclear-free Europe, and friendship with East Germany, 1978. Member of German Parliament, representing the Grey Panther Party, 1987-90.
“[W]e were indeed the peace movement and. . . said: 'Come, this is the future for Germany'—and not these nuclear power stations or the incitement to war or the arms dealer, etc.” (Mar. 15, 2000, Bavarian Radio; 2002 photo Wikipedia)
Carol Urner born April 21, 1929. Quaker international aid worker; WILPF leader and representative at UN disarmament meetings; taught nonviolence in Philippines.
"[W]e can't love God without loving our neighbor: whoever is next to us at this moment in time. We have to love, really love, with that same love we feel pouring into and loving us." (1994 Pendle Hill pamphlet "The Kingdom and the Way." p. 15; photo space4peace.org)
Anita Ušacka born Riga, Latvia April 26, 1952. Professor of humanitarian law. Executive Director of UNICEF Latvia, 1994-96. First judge of Latvian constitutional court, 1996-2004. Judge of International Criminal Court, Appeals Division, 2003; President of Appeals Division, 2011-12. Presided over Congo Vice-President Bemba's appeal, 2010.
From ruling on president of Ivory Coast: “[T]here can be no doubt that the charges that the prosecutor has brought against Mr. Gbagbo and for which the warrant of arrest against him was issued—crimes against humanity of murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as other inhumane acts and persecution—are serious and may lead to a lengthy sentence in case of conviction.” (Oct. 21, 2012, iAfrica; photo ICC)
Yvonne Hostert Useldinger born Steinfort, Luxembourg November 6, 1921 (d. 2009). Communist resister to Nazis; Ravensbrück survivor; leader of Luxembourg women.
"Doing nothing is like being dead." (Goosch.lu #214; photo Le Quotidien, Nov. 5, 2011)
Maryam Uwais born Washington DC December 10, 1974. Muslim lawyer; Nigerian; human rights activist.
"Allah commands that humans observe 'ihsan' (excellence in goodness). Community standards and culture cannot be a substitute for ethics, compassion and virtue." (This Day, May 3, 2010)
"We all have to say no to violence." (Sunday Trust, Nov. 27, 2011; photo Wali-Uwais)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
