Sandra Kanck

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Overview

Sandra Kanck (née Cederblad) born Broken Hill, New South Wales April 20, 1950. Australian social reformer and peace activist. Politician; member of South Australian Parliament, 1993-2009. Led first delegation to Vietnam, 1994. Protested French atomic tests, Mururoa, 1971; opposed Iraq War; opposed US bases in Australia.

Quotations

“[T]he body can take up some of that fallout and the younger a person is the more likely it will take it up because, what it does, the body can’t tell the difference between strontium and calcium, and so if it’s exposed to strontium-90 it will take it up in the bones and deposit it as calcium. And I was outraged.” (interview, Oct 26, 2007)

Angela Kane

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Overview

Angela Kane (née Uther) born Hamelin, Lower Saxony, Germany September 29, 1948. Ranking executive of UN since 1977. Special representative to end El Salvador War, 1991. Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs, 2005-08; Under-Secretary-General for Management, 2008-12. As High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, oversaw the destruction of stockpiled Syrian chemical weapons, 2013.

Quotations

On drone warfare: "Any weapon of war is terrible, and if you can launch this without human intervention, I think it’s even worse. It compounds the problem and dehumanises it in a way. It becomes a faceless war and I think that’s really terrible and so to my mind I think it should be outlawed." (Telegraph, Aug. 24, 2014)

Kang Kyung-wha

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Overview

Kang Kyung-wha born Seoul, South Korea April 7, 1955. Special Adviser on Policy to UN Secretary General 2016; UN Assistant Secretary Humanitarian Affairs 2013; UN Deputy Commissioner Human Rights 2006; Chaired UN Committee on Status of Women 2004-05; Korean representative to UN 2001-05.

Quotations

“We look to the members of the Security Council to show leadership to end the barbaric and brutal warfare in Syria. We are running out of words to describe the terrible human and humanitarian consequences.” (UN Security Council, Sept. 26, 2015; photo free keyword)

Rebecca Kanner

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Overview

Rebecca Kanner born Cleveland, OH July 9, 1957. Mechanical engineer. Arrested three times for protests against the School of the Americas, Columbus, GA, 1997, 1999, 2000; sentenced to 6 months prison; arrested again, 2014.

Quotations

"I was inspired by the Jewish concept of 'tikkun olam.' Translated from the Hebrew, this means the just ordering of human society and the world—or more literally, the repair of the world. I was also inspired by the Jewish prophetic tradition of social justice. As a Jew, I am moved to work to repair the tragic consequences of the SOA." (court statement, May 22, 2001)

Mehrangiz Kar

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Overview

Mehrangiz Kar born Ahvaz, Iran October 10, 1944. Muslim; human rights activist; lawyer; journalist; arrested and sentenced to 4 years, but released in 2 months for cancer treatment, 2000. Recipient of Trarieux Prize and Human Rights First award.

Quotations

"Surviving two world wars, in 1948 the human race decided to plan for a war-free, discrimination-free and violence-free world. Each of the 30 articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is influenced by the love of mankind for mankind and human dignity." (Dec. 20, 2010 to American Islamic Conference; photo M. Kar homepage)

Tawakkol Karman

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Overview

Tawakkol Karman born Taiz, Yemen February 7, 1979. Nonviolent leader of Yemeni revolution during 2011 Arab Spring movement; repeatedly arrested. Co-founded Women Journalists Without Chains, 2005; led weekly protests at Sanaa University, 2007-2010. Shared Nobel Peace Prize with Leymah Gbowee & Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 2011; first Arab woman Nobel recipient; youngest Nobel Peace Laureate.

Quotations

"We refuse violence and know that violence has already caused our country countless problems." (Time, Feb. 16, 2011; photo http://bit.ly/r7syP7)

Nina Karpachova

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Overview

Nina Karpachova born Ceadîr-Lunga, Moldova, USSR August 12, 1950. Ukrainian human rights lawyer. First national Ombudsman and Commissioner of Human Rights, 1998-2012. Protested arrest of former premier Yulia Tymoshenko. Condemned Israeli violence in Gaza, 2009; opposed the war in Donbass.

Quotations

"Instantly, the disastrous atrocities of the war in Ukraine challenged the right to life of the people from many countries. In reality it is not only our war. After all, the world is very closely linked and interdependent. . . I believe that the main cause of the disaster is the war in the East of Ukraine. Therefore, it is a matter of urgency for the European and international community to help in early termination of the hostilities in the region and resolution of the crisis in a peaceful manner through negotiations, which will save the lives of many people." (official apology for downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, Sept. 2014)

Martha Karua

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Overview

Martha Karua (née Wangari) born Kirinyaga, Kenya September 22, 1957. "Iron Lady of Africa." Human rights advocate and lawyer; first woman elected to Kenyan Parliament, 1992. Kenyan Justice Minister, 2005-09; resigned due to inability to freely pursue her reform efforts. Presidential candidate, 2012.

Quotations

"There can’t be peace without women—we are giving true meaning to democracy by focusing on peace." (Ceasefire Magazine, Jan. 3, 2012)

Margot Kassman

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Overview

Margot Kässmann (née Schultze) born Marburg, Hesse, Germany June 3, 1955. Lutheran bishop. First woman to head the German Evangelical Council, 2009; opposed German participation in Afghan War, 2009; signed German leaders’ antiwar protest, 2014. Opposed NATO missiles, 1983; against all war, including World War I.

Quotations

"There is no just war—that is what we have learned from history. There is only just peace. . . If the radicals stand up for non-violence, dare to dream the dream of a world without violence, it would definitely make a difference. Peace be with you." (World Council of Churches, May 18, 2011)

Shidzue Kato

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Overview

Shidzue Kato born Tokyo, Japan March 2, 1897 (d. 2001). Leading Japanese feminist and birth control advocate. Imprisoned 1937; socialist member of Japanese Diet, 1946-74; worked for Japanese apology for WWII.

Quotations

“What we did was wrong, and what was wrong must be admitted and put right between nations as well as individuals. . .” (M. Henderson, All Her Paths Are Peace, p.67; photo Museum of Contraception)

Mary Metlay Kaufman

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Overview

Mary Metlay Kaufman born Atlanta, GA November 9, 1912 (d. 1995). Nuremberg War Crimes prosecutor; opposed Vietnam War and Cold War; defended civil disobedience protesters.

Quotations

"I reject the inhuman and amoral values which dominate our priorities. I reject the notion that we are powerless to change the course and I ask that you join with me in the effort we need to make in reshaping our world." (Hampshire College, 1976; photo 1956 Smith Col.)

Ashima Kaul

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Overview

12.09 kaul.jpg

Ashima Kaul born Srinagar, Kashmir, India December 9, 1964. Kashmiri peacemaker; journalist; organized first peace workshop of Kashmiri women “Breaking the Silence”, 2000; founded Athwaas (“Handshake” dialog between Muslim and Hindu women to get peace, 2001; founded Yakjah (“Being together”) Reconciliation and Development Network to counter violence, 2002; JoanKroc WomanPeacemaker, 2014.

Quotations

“I had to recover the dying, bullet-ridden soul of Kashmir, rebuild broken relationships, break the silence of women, give them a voice and establish new spaces for creation of a spirit of trust, solace and healing.” (Alison Morse, “A Slow Bloom”, Kroc WomenPeacemakers; photo inclusive security.org)

Amrit Kaur

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Overview

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur born Lucknow, India February 2, 1889 (d. 1964). Gandhian independence leader; resident of Gandhi's ashram, as secretary; imprisoned for her participation in Indian independence activities, including the 1930 Dandi March, the 1937 Bannu Mission, and the 1942 Quit India campaign. Served as a founding UNESCO delegate, 1945-46; headed Indian Ministry of Health, 1947-57; first woman president of the World Health Assembly, 1950.

Quotations

"No structure of society can be a stable one that had not its roots deep in the moral and spiritual values of life. . . Geographical barriers have been conquered but oceans of hate and misunderstanding still divide us." (speech to UNESCO, London, 1945 in Our Leaders, p. 140; photo toppersbiography)

Michi Kawai

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Overview

Michi Kawai born Yamada, Japan July 29, 1877 (d. 1953). Japanese internationalist, pacifist; "The greatest woman leader in Japan"; Secretary of YWCA; leader of Fellowship of Reconciliation; President of Japan Peace Society 1931-3 opposing Manchurian war; labored to avoid war with US.

Quotations

"Love cannot live alone; it calls for friendship and grows stronger and purer by unselfish service. Where love is, peace abides, and envy, fear, hatred, war, can never come within its citadel." (Michi Kawai and Ochimi Kubushiro, Japanese Women Speak, p. 189, 1934)

Specioza Wandira Kazibwe

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Overview

Specioza Wandira Kazibwe born Iganda, Uganda July 1, 1955. Ugandan surgeon; politician. As vice-president of Uganda, first woman to hold that position of an African nation, 1994-2003. Founded African Women Committee on Peace and Development (AWCPD) to increase women's involvement in African peacemaking processes, 1998. Led African Union team in observation of Liberian elections, 2011. Appointed UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, 2013.

Quotations

“Africa would be the continent of the twenty-first century, just as Europe had been the continent of the nineteenth century and America of the twentieth century. . . In a world where the rich got richer and the poor got poorer, how could Africa share the same vision of prosperity? The competitive marketplace where only the fittest survived must be humanized. The heartless pursuit of profits at the expense of everything else would achieve the opposite of what globalization had intended. . . The globalization agenda imposed the responsibility to create one world from the two worlds of rich and poor. That could only be achieved if the profit motive of capitalism was moderated by concern for the welfare of all humanity.” (DPI/NGO Conference, Sept. 17, 1999; photo ghananewsagency.org)

Liya Kebede

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Overview

Liya Kebede born Addis Ababa, Ethiopia January 3, 1978. Supermodel; actress; World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador, 2005.

Quotations

"This is a global crisis and it affects us all.  Every mother and child that dies needlessly plunges another family into poverty, condemns another generation of children to poverty and struggle or even untimely death and destabilizes another community." (June 16, 2009, at UN; photo Wikipedia)

Louise Keilhau

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Overview

Louise Keilhau (née Ottesen) born Kristiansand, Norway May 25, 1860 (d. 1927). WILPF founding member; teacher; suffragist; founder Norwegian Committee for Permanent Peace.

Quotations

“We women, in International Congress assembled, protest against the madness and horror of war, involving as it does a reckless sacrifice of human life and the destruction of so much that humanity has laboured through centuries to build up.” (resolution, April 28, 1915, The Hague, wilpf.org/anniversary-exhibits)

Darlene Keju

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Overview

Darlene Keju-Johnson born Ebeye, Kwajalein, Marshall Islands April 23, 1951 (d. 1996). Pioneering anti-nuclear activist. Exposed widespread aftereffects of atomic testing on people of Marshall Islands.

Quotations

"We are doing our part to stop this nuclear madness. And although we are few we have done it! Which means you can do it too! . . . We must come together to save this world for our children and for the future generations." (Daniela Gioseffi, Women on War, p. 252)