Nguyen Thi Binh born Châu Thành, Sa Đéc Province, French Indochina May 26, 1927. Foreign Minister, 1969-76. Principal negotiator of Vietnam Peace Accord, Paris, 1973.
“I feel that I’m very lucky as my life is closely associated with important historic events of the 20th century: the resistance wars against the French colonialists, the US imperialists, and 30 years of peace after the war.” (Voice of Vietnam VOV5, May 22, 2012)
Joyce Neu born August 27, 1950. Linguist and conflict resolution expert. Peace Corps Volunteer, Senegal, 1972-74. Founded Facilitating Peace; first team leader of UN Standby Mediation Experts, 2008; facilitated Sudanese women’s discussions. Founding Director, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice; Director, Conflict Resolution Program Carter Center, providing mediation in Republic of Congo, Mali, Sudan, Uganda. Co-founder, Alliance for Peacebuilding and the Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Penn State University.
“Women have skills that benefit them greatly as mediators. In many communities, women are turned to to bring the parties together as they know the parties and the issues. I'm not talking about women like you or me who are from outside the conflict, but women who are living in that community, who are often viewed as more trustworthy, as more willing to listen. These qualities may be stereotypically female, but they're also beneficial to a peace process.” (Women in Foreign Policy, Sep. 10, 2017; photo womeninforeignpolicy.org)
Ada Nilsson born Toarps Gård, Södra Säm, Sweden March 21, 1872 (d. 1964). Swedish gynecologist and leader in women’s rights; pacifist; feminist; suffragist. Organized Frisan Women’s opposition to Great War, 1914. Co-founded Women’s Unarmed Uprising Against War opposing Mussolini’s war on Ethiopia, 1935. Urged disarmament at League of Nations. Aided refugees in both World Wars.
On opposition to war: “We must be organized politically in order to change. . . women should be optimistic, and specialize in such a group on some basic questions for women—such as the population and its living conditions, earthquake, war and peace as well as education—which can drive the issues forward and significantly contribute to its solution in the desired direction, although the definitive the design will be through other forces, one of which is completely natural, our party-based parliamentary approach.” (Inga-Britta Melin, Lysistrata’s Daughters, 1999, pp. 117-8; photo riksarkivet)
Farida Bemba Nabourema born Lomé, Togo April 19, 1990. Togolese human rights blogger.
“The only compensation any activist should expect is posterity. Fight for others because others fought for you.” (Nobel Women’s Initiative, Nov. 25, 2017)
“In the human race, oppression is the weapon of predators.” (photo African youth excellence)
Terhi Nieminen-Mäkynen (née Nupponnen) born Helsinki, Finland September 12, 1946. Finnish politician. International crisis manager; Member of Parliament, 1975-83. Chaired boycott committee against Apartheid, 1979; UN mission to Kosovo, 1999-2000; UNIFEM expert on Afghanistan 2004-05; UN report on Timor, 2005-06. Finnish mentor on human trafficking, Pristina, 2007-08; headed EUPOL gender equality Afghanistan, 2012-14. Co-founder of Civil Society Conflict Prevention Network (KATU).
“In the solution of conflicts it is required that all parties are willing to work for a common goal. By so doing, different parties gain appreciation from others. Reconciliation negotiations are held in a public place and the opposite parties proceed according to a traditional protocol. The ritual ceremony of conciliations is the last stage. . . This is preceded by numerous negotiations in which the desired goals have been jointly striven for. It is important to create a consensus.” (“Lack of Security in East Timor” report in Oili Alm, Human Security—Perspectives, c. 2010; photo Google Plus)
Claire M. Nelson born February 23, 1952. Human rights activist. Co-founded Grannies Respond (Abuelos Responden), protesting child separation at border, 2018.
“To me, grannies mean something very, very, strong towards children just in terms of what we grannies and grandpas are. . . [We are] strong, we’re elderly, we’re wise, we have unconditional love for our children and children of the world. I felt like that we could respond and make a difference in many ways.” (CBS News, Jul. 19, 2018; photo comic sands)
Muriel Nichol (née Wallhead) born Wilmslow, Cheshire, England February 2, 1893 (d. 1983). British Socialist, pacifist politician; suffragist; teacher. Opposed world war i conscription when her father was imprisoned for antiwar activity. Wartime speaking tour on “futility of war”; active in interwar No More War movement. Labour Member of Parliament, opposing conscription and urging independence for india, 1945-50.
“India can govern herself. She wants to govern herself; she insists upon governing herself, and quite rightly.” (March 6, 1947 in Parliament, Hansard, p. 720; photo documenting dissent)
Anna Theresia Nilsson born Toarps Gård, Södra Säm, Sweden April 27, 1869 (d. 1947). Swedish peace activist, teacher, and writer. Sister of leading peacemaker Ada Nilsson. Delegate to International Women’s Peace Congress, The Hague, 1915. Active at League of Nations, Geneva. Wrote four books on peace: Data and Facts in the Peace Movement, 1924; From Two Battlefields, and A Third, 1933; Peace Movement ABC, 1934; Ten Happy Years Travelling in Peace Work, 1945. (photo sydsvenskan)
Gertrude E. Nafe born Grand Island, NE November 22, 1883 (d. 1971). Nonviolent anarchist; communist; teacher and writer; organizer for Emma Goldman. Fired from teaching position for striking “obedience” from loyalty oath, 1918.
“We do not threaten violence and never have. We prophesy that the change will not be made without the use of force and we resolve not to be deterred by that fact. Violence covers the earth at present and is the root of all governments. The only possible foundation of peace is justice.” (Socialist Review, 1919, p. 113; photo Wikipedia)
Razan al-Najjar born Gaza, Palestine September 11, 1999 (d. 2018). Paramedic nurse injured caring for wounded unarmed protesters April 2018; returned to be killed by Israeli sniper soldiers.
“In our society women are often judged, but society has to accept us. If they don’t want to accept us by choice, they will be forced to accept us because we have more strength than any man. The strength that I showed the first day of the protests, I dare you to find it in anyone else.” (electronic intifada, Jun. 2, 2018)
“We have one goal—to save lives and evacuate people. And to send a message to the world: Without weapons, we can do anything.” (Washington Post, Jun. 2, 2018; photo +972 magazine)
Luisa Neubauer born Hamburg, Germany April 21, 1996. German youth activist for climate change. Youth Ambassador for ONE Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations, 350 org, Hunger Project, Fossil Free, Alliance 90/The Greensand. Attended World Youth Summit, 2018; World Climate Summit, 2018.
“The growing threat to our future posed by climate change has stimulated students to take action. . . ‘The fossil fuel industry has been blocking change to sustainable energy for their own financial interests.' We must therefore make it in their financial interests to change. Divestment can help achieve this.” (Scoop, July 19, 2018; photo twitter)
Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera born Kampala, Uganda April 12, 1980. Alternative Nobel Peace Prize Right Livelihood award 2015; Ennals Human Rights Prize 2011; “founding mother” Ugandan LGBT civil rights movement, 1999.
“It’s very important that we are who we are, especially looking back in history at how our race has been undermined, it's important for us to stand up and be counted. Our black pride should never be allowed to be discounted again because of our skin colour. It is important that we work and achieve greatness for ourselves instead of waiting for others to do that for us. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand and feel sorry for ourselves, we need to stand with our heads high and proud for trying our best to make this world a better place for justice and equality, freedom and liberation.” Wikipedia; photo pri.org)
Saiza Nabarawi (née Zainad Murad) born Cairo, Egypt January 31, 1897 (d. 1985). Egyptian anti-imperialist feminist, journalist; took off veil to protest British occupation 1919; unveiled in nonviolent protest May 1923; editor feminist L’Egyptienne 1925-40; co-founder Egyptian Political Union; founded Women’s Popular Resistance Committee; postwar advocate of nonalignment; prewar defender of Palestinian human rights.
“What did we demand? A little sympathy for the unfortunate who suffer in the East from the wrongs of imperialist politics. This testimony of sympathy. . . accords moreover with the declaration of human rights.” (Margot Badran, Feminists, Islam, p. 235; 1923 photo pinterest.com)
Harriet Nahanee (née Jones) AKA Tseybeyotl born Pacheedaht tribe, Vancouver Island, British Columbia December 7, 1935 (d. 2007). Canadian indigenous rights activist; died soon after release from 2 weeks in jail for Sky-to-Sky highway protest.
“I'd like to ask all the people out there to reclaim their culture—practice it, teach the children, and let's reclaim our backbone, our culture and put some pride in our children.” (July 1995 sisis.nativeweb.org; photo Wikipedia)
Leigh-Ann Naidoo born Durban, Natal, South Africa July 12, 1975. Olympic beach volleyball player. Illegally seized aboard the Zaytouna-Oliva, the Women’s Boat to Gaza, in nonviolent effort to aid Gaza; detained two days, 2016.
“[W]e have been intercepted and kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces.” (All4Women, Oct. 6, 2016)
“[W]hy take the risk to struggle for Palestine? Because apartheid is something we experienced in South Africa and I feel there are so many similarities with the way Israel operates and treats the Palestinians.” (Palestine Chronicle, Oct. 10, 2016; photo mg.co.za)
Padmaja Naidu born Hyderabad, India November 17, 1900 (d. 1975). Gandhian independence leader; daughter of Indian National Congress President Sarojini Naidu; arrested for civil disobedience, 1942; Governor of West Bengal, 1956. (photo Female Indian Freedom Fighters)
On Hyderabad takeover: “The time has come for forgiveness for all those who sinned so grievously both before and after the police action. Without that there is no chance of any enduring peace.” (to Nehru, per Nehru to Patel, Oct. 1, 1950 in Taylor Sherman, State Violence, 2010); photo Female Indian Freedom Fighters)
Sarojini Naidu born Hyderabad, India February 13, 1879 (d. 1949). Nonviolent activist for Indian independence; patriot; politician; poet known as "The Nightingale of India." Second female president of Indian National Congress, 1925. Lectured on nonviolence in US, 1928; arrested for Gandhian actions, 1930, 1932, 1942, 1943; presided over Asian Relations Conference, New Delhi, 1947.
"Men say the world is full of fear and hate,
And all life's ripening harvest-fields await
The restless sickle of relentless fate.
But I, sweet Soul, rejoice that I was born,
When from the climbing terraces of corn
I watch the golden orioles of Thy morn."
(Poem "In Salutation to Eternal Peace"; photo http://bit.ly/JTQdl4)
Anissa Najjar (née Rawda) born Beirut, Lebanon, Ottoman Empire June 13, 1913 (d. 2016). Druze social worker and headmistress; vice president international WILPF 1977; active in independence movement 1943-4; founding head Village Welfare Society, the first in the Middle East 1953; founding president WILPF chapter Lebanese Committee for Peace and Freedom (LCPF) 1961; delegate to women’s conferences Cairo, Nairobi, Beijing.
“Peace begins at home—peace begins with the mothers who bring up the children. Women are good mothers when they are peaceful—when they teach and educate their children through their practices. This has been my philosophy, my life-long Literacy of the Mind-project.” (June 2008, WILPF final report on Lebanon, p. 50; photo druzeworldwide.com)
Chouchou Namegabe born Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo March 30, 1978. Radio journalist. Co-founded South Kivu Women's Media Association AFEM to eradicate sexual violence as weapon of war, 2003; AFEM president, 2005-present.
"Rape and sexual violence [are] used as a weapon and tactic of war to destroy the community." (to US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, May 2009, in IIP Digital, September 10, 2012)
Sumaya Farhat Naser born Bir Zeit, Palestine June 11, 1948. Professor of Ecology; Palestinian peace activist; Augsburg Peace Award 2000; Kreisky Human Rights Prize 1995; co-founder Jerusalem Center for Women.
"The time has come to lay down our weapons and our fears. We refuse to accept more warfare in our lives, our communities, our nations. We refuse to go along with the fear. We refuse to give in to the violence. We refuse to be enemies." (joint statement with Gila Svirsky, Sept. 6, 2007; photo Wikipedia)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
