Gabriele Petkevičaité-Bité

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Overview

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Gabriele Petkevičaité-Bité born Puziniškis estate, Panevėžys, Russian Lithuania March 16, 1861 (d. 1943). Lithuanian writer. First chair of national constituent assembly which achieved peace and recognition from Russia and arbitration of Latvia boundary, 1920. Opposed World War I, which she feared would never end.

Quotations

“But those are not apple-blossoms which are looking at me! They are thousands and thousands of eyes! Living human eyes! But perishing! The moisture of great tears is trembling yet in them. . . And this requires no explanation. Those are the eyes of those being killed at the fronts.” (Joseph Canning, Power, Violence, ch. 11; photo wikipedia)

Thania Paffenholz

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Overview

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Thania Paffenholz born Cologne, Germany February 2, 1956. International peace researcher, mediator, and adviser. Director, Inclusive Peace and Transition Initiative, Geneva; founding director Center for Peacebuilding at Swisspeace, Bern. Awarded Wihuri International Prize, 2015.

Quotations

“If you have a women’s only delegation at the negotiation table, these are usually the activists. From them, you can expect more [of a] push on [the] deep roots of conflict, [and] gender issues. . . [The key point], is to get these activists into positions of decision-making power, which they often do not have. More women do not equal more peace automatically. In order for inclusiveness to translate into the intended results, better peace process design and a consideration of the social, cultural context is necessary.” (International Peace Institute, Oct. 26, 2016; photo wikipedia)

Ana Palacio

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Overview

Ana Palacio Valle Lersundi born Madrid, Spain July 22, 1948. Spanish lawyer; first woman Foreign Minister of Spain 2002-4; contributed to European Constitution; resisted Iraq War; General Counsel of World Bank 2006; member of European Parliament 1994-2002.

Quotations

"The United States has made a major mistake with Guantanamo." (Nov. 11, 2003, Telecino TV, al-Jazeera)

"One must not forget the unique role played by African women in the question of poverty eradication in Africa. In fact, African women have placed themselves in the frontline despite the many difficulties they endure." (World Bank Group; photo Wikipedia)

Nela Pamukovic

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Overview

Nela Pamuković born Šibenik, Croatia, Yugoslavia December 25, 1959. Croatian lesbian feminist and antiwar activist. Active in first regional nonviolence group, 1987; Antiwar Campaign of Croatia, 1991. Co-founded Centre for Women War Victims (ROSA), 1992.

Quotations

“Our basic human rights are fragile, and we can lose them every day if we don’t fight. . . If we fight, we have some satisfaction that we have done some good, for the benefit of women and the rest of the population. And for us, as well—we fight for our own lives.” (Global Fund for Women; photo kerrylobel.typepad.com)

Margaret Papandreou

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Overview

Margarita Papandreou (née Margaret Chant) born Oak Park, IL September 22, 1930. Greek first lady. Organized international feminist anti-war conference Athens Nov. 1986; contributed to end of Cold War by visit to USSR 1987; democratic Socialist.

Quotations

“Women are not at the peace table. We are not there where our commitment to peace, our capacities to find solutions through dialogue, debate, our sensitivities to human needs, human rights are sorely needed. . . The feminist movement has a vision. We understand, first of all, that we have but one earth, shared by one humanity. . . . we will make it a woman’s world, not in the sense of control, or power, or dominance, but those values that we call women-centered values, will be diffused throughout society.” (“Feminism and Political Power,” Canadian Women Studies, 1987, vol. 8, no. 2, p.82; photo y3sman.wordpress)

Borka Pavicevic

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Overview

Borka Pavićević born Kotor, Montenegro, Yugoslavia June 5, 1947. Pacifist dramaturge who opposed Balkan wars; newspaper columnist, playwright; founded Centre for Cultural Decontamination against "nationalism, xenophobia, intolerance, hatred and fear." 1994; co-founded Belgrade Circle opposing Serbian nationalism 1992.

Quotations

“The war was made because the parties in power wanted to suppress a democratic movement.  Creating that incredible hate—five years of it—that the other nation are idiots, that they want to kill us, that enormous xenophobia, all that was how the ruling regime was keeping itself in power. Then you are inventing enemies all over the world, enemies are other people. After the war that mirror is turning back. Now it is clear in the end that the regime is the enemy, because the war should never have been waged.” (Suzi Wesman interview, Solidarity, Dec. 6, 1996; photo ekapija.com)

Vesna Pesic

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Overview

Vesna Pešić born Grocka, Serbia, Yugoslavia May 6, 1940. Serbian human rights activist and antiwar leader. Arrested for human rights protest, 1982. Founded Yugoslav Helsinki Committee, 1985; Yugoslav European Movement, 1991; Centre for Antiwar Action (CAWA), promoting nonviolence and negotiation, 1991. Received Sakharov Award, 1997.

Quotations

“It was the war which made some women aware of the need to stand up and voice their dissent. It was the war which made them organize themselves, learn to communicate between themselves, establish contacts with women's groups abroad, embrace the strategies for non-violent demonstrations against nationalism, militarism, repression, violence and abuse of human and, specifically, women's rights. It is only fair to say that the women played the leading role in practically all actions for peace, starting with the formation of the Center for Anti-War Action in Belgrade in 1991.” (Vienna, July 10, 1997, Gifts of Speech; photo blic.rs)

Alice Pestana

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Overview

Alice Pestana de Blanco (AKA Caïel) born Santarem, Portugal April 7, 1860 (d. 1929). Portuguese novelist, playwright, and poet; pacifist and feminist. Founded Portuguese League for Peace, 1899. National representative at the founding of the Women’s League for Disarmament, 1899. Delegate to Hague Conference, 1900.

Quotations

“We ask for the creation of Committees for the cause if peace in each country, so that in the XX century we may live in harmony, meaning peace, freedom, and justice.” (bloguiar “Portuguese Women Out of the Shadows”, Sept. 18, 2012; photo Bernardino Machado)

Concepcion Picciotto

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Overview

Concepcion “Connie” Picciotto (née Concepción Martín) born Vigo, Spain January 15, 1936 (d. 2016). Maintained the longest-running US peace vigil, located outside the White House, from 1981 until her death; began as anti-nuclear protest, featuring signs: "Live by the Bomb, Die by the Bomb", "Ban All Nuclear Weapons or Have a Nice Doomsday", "Don't Be a Lemming. Save Yourself."

Quotations

"I am in pursuit of Peace and Justice to make people aware, so that they wake up to the reality that weapons of mass destruction threaten the extinction of mankind. The people have to make the change. The governments do not represent the people, they represent the corporations. We have to start from scratch. If the people lead, the leaders will follow. That's when revolutions happen, when the people cannot tolerate anymore. . . People just want to be heard.” (Malaysia Daily Express, Sept. 19, 1993; photo thefullwiki.org)

Isabelle F. Picco

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Overview

Isabelle F. Picco born Monaco November 8, 1962. Monegasque diplomat; delegate to UN since Monaco’s accession 1993; Permanent Representative 2009; Vice President UN General Assembly 2013.

Quotations

"[W]ithout education of women we won't achieve any development or peace in the world." (Women’s Foreign Policy Group, April 15, 2010)

"Indeed, the very essence of our United Nations is to promote and work toward creating a culture of peace." (Xinhuanet, Sept. 9, 2013; photo flickr.com)

Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo

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Overview

Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo born Abrantes, Portugal January 18, 1930 (d. 2004). Chemical engineer; Portuguese ambassador to UNESCO, 1975; Portuguese Prime Minister, 1979; first female candidate for Portuguese presidency, 1986; member of European Parliament, 1987; signatory of leaders' declaration on abolition of nuclear weapons, 1998.

Quotations

"I believe deeply that women can change society. . . Now that we are equal, let us dare to be different!" (Sisterhood is Global, p. 575; photo http://bit.ly/x9pv4p)

Frantiska Plaminkova

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Overview

Frantiŝka Plamínková born Prague, Czechoslovakia February 5, 1875 (d. 1942). Pioneering Czech feminist; teacher; WILPF member. Elected to Czech National Assembly as senator, 1925; delegate to League of Nations, 1931; jailed by Nazis, 1939, 1942; executed by firing squad without trial, 1942.

Quotations

"I am firmly convinced that the truth will, after all, prevail even against the military superiority." (Letter to Hitler, 1938, Czech Dialog, pp. 3-4, 2007; photo http://bit.ly/JgP8Uo)

Adelheid Popp

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Overview

Adelheid Popp (née Dworschak) born Inzersdorf, Vienna, Austria February 11, 1869 (d. 1939). Austrian feminist; suffragist; journalist. Pacifist and socialist who opposed World War I. Led first Women’s Day protest against war, 1918. Member of Parliament, 1919-34.

Quotations

“War was the massacre of men, not for the defence of the frontier of one's country against a wicked, savage enemy, but in the interests of dynasties, dictated by greed of land or contrived by diplomatic intrigues.” (Autobiography of a Working Woman, 1912, p. 101; photo onb.ac.at)

Clelia Premoli

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Overview

Clelia Premoli born Milan, Italy August 6, 1899 (d. 1974). Italian labor leader; individualist anarchist; age 17 arrested for antiwar protest Milan; encouraged draft resisters; arrested 1920; opposed Mussolini 1924; exiled to France, Uruguay, deported, and imprisoned 2 under Mussolini, then German concentration camp.

Quotations

“I had gone to the cathedral square to make the anti-war demonstration. I spoke of the human and the good side of men and at the end I cried Down with the war, the war is cursed by mankind. Imagine, the judges and the police were amazed, the crowd shouted with joy, I got lots of applause.” (Clelia Premoli "I made the tribunal pale," CretaStorie; photo bfscollezionedigitale)

Giovanna Providenti

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Overview

Giovanna Providenti born Messina, Sicily June 9, 1965. Italian feminist scholar; author of Nonviolent Women; active in nonviolent Association of Mediterranean Women (AWMR).

Quotations

“From the sense of responsibility towards their own and others' lives, by making full use of their own authoritativeness, women. . . have dared to believe that they have very, very much power to eliminate war from history. And they tried to act this power. . . the story seems to continue in another direction.” (“Nonviolent Women in the Time of War”, April 7, 2005; photo arachne editrice)

Vesna Pusić

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Overview

Vesna Pusić born Zagreb, Yugoslavia April 25, 1956. Croatian sociology professor; official candidate for UN Secretary General 2016; the only feminist; endorsed by nonviolent party; Foreign Minister 2006-11; promoted European unity, chaired negotiations for Croatian membership in EU 2005-8; co-founder Erasmus Guild 1993 promoting postwar cultural democracy.

Quotations

“The United Nations is a flawed institution but also an essential one. . . The next Secretary-General should focus on maintaining and enhancing the quality of the United Nations diplomacy. . . I would like to see some women on this list.” (Campaign to elect a woman Secretary-General; Pusić; vision statement; photo alchetron)