Eleanor Rathbone

Overview

Eleanor Florence Rathbone born South Kensington, London, England May 12, 1872 (d. 1946). Suffragist, feminist; Independent Member of British Parliament 1929-1946; tried to prevent war through League of Nations Union; book War Can Be Averted, 1938; opposed Italian invasion of Ethiopia and Hitler's reoccupation of Rhineland; early support for Jewish refugees and recognition of Holocaust; opposed genital mutilation in Kenya and supported Indian women's rights; protested violence in Ireland.

Pauline Roland

Overview

Pauline Roland born Falaise, Calvados, Normandy, France June 7, 1805 (d. 1851). French feminist historian; St. Simonian Socialist; pacifist. Spent seven months in prison for socialist agitation and opposition to Napoleon III coup, 1850; died due to suffering life sentence in Algerian prison, 1851.

Quotations

“Sisters of America! Your socialist sisters of France are united with you in the vindication of the right of woman to civil and political equality.” (Jeanne Deroin, Pauline Roland, Paris, St. Lazare Prison, June 15, 1851; portrait accadde)

Maria Rabaté

Overview

Maria Rabaté (née Bernuchon) born Moncontour, Vienne, France July 3, 1900 (d. 1985). French Communist politician dedicated to postwar peace, opposing wars in Vietnam, Korea, Algiers, and to nuclear weapons.

Quotations

“Women, concerned about the lives of their families, will subscribe to this program of common sense, justice and peace. End the Algerian war, take initiatives in favor of disarmament.” (1958 appeal at Referendum, bide et musique; photo assemble national)

Gabrielle Radziwill

Overview

Gabrielle Radziwill born Berlin, Prussia March 14, 1877 (d. 1968). Lithuanian internationalist. Pioneering woman in League of Nations Secretariat information section, connecting with women’s NGOs. Served in Russian Red Cross on Persian front during World War I.

Quotations

“During recent years women’s organizations have contributed greatly to the forming of public opinion on international questions, and the fostering of international understanding.” (Ellen Warne, “Constance Duncan”, p. 293)

Clara Ragaz

Overview

Clara Ragaz (née Nadig) born Chur, Switzerland March 30, 1874 (d. 1957). Swiss peace leader; women’s rights advocate. Founding member WILPF, 1915; WILPF Swiss Vice-President, 1929-46.

Quotations

“[T]he atomic bomb should show even to those most indifferent and to those most apathetic what war means, and make them understand that we are lost if we keep putting our trust in violence.” (Luxembourg, Aug. 1946, in Confortini, Intelligent Compassion, p. 39)

Lilo Ramdohr

Overview

Lieselotte "Lilo" Fürst-Ramdohr born Aschersleben, Saxony October 11, 1913. Member of White Rose nonviolent resistance to Hitler; twice arrested. (photo 1943 wikicommons pd)

Cornelia Ramondt-Hirschmann

Overview

Cornelia Ramondt-Hirschmann born The Hague July 29, 1871 (d.). WILPF founding member; on team of women's appeal to heads of states for peace 1915: tsar of Russia, kings of Sweden and Denmark; hosted WILPF Emergency conference for "new peace" 1922; WILPF international co-chair 1936-7; headed Netherlands Theosophical Society 1927-30.

Quotations

On sending flowers to wounded British soldiers: "[U]nderstanding how it might for a time at least lead the thoughts of all these wounded and suffering men in a direction different from the horrors and misery they had been going through and remind them of those women who are giving the best of their powers towards the bringing back of the feelings of brotherhood and internationalism that have for the time being, so sadly been supplanted by hatred and antagonism." (1915 Bericht Rapport of women at the Hague; 1924 photo Swarthmore Peace Col.)

Marjatta Rasi

Overview

Marjatta Rasi born Punkailadun, Finland November 29, 1945. Finnish ambassador to UN, 1998; Vice President of ECOSOC, 2002-3; planned postwar aid; Chair of UN Peacebuilding Fund, 2006.

Quotations

"Humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction can and will overlap. These actions must often be accompanied by continuous crisis mitigation and prevention to avoid setbacks. Peacekeeping and security must be part of a coherent approach." (Report to Security Council, May 28, 2004; photo Enviro Finland 2011)

Marianne Rauze

Overview

Marianne Rauze (née Gaillarde) born Paris, France September 20, 1875 (d. 1964). French anti-militarist editor; feminist; Socialist, absolute pacifist, wife of army officer who died of war wounds.

Quotations

"Enough killing!" (Dec. 1916)

Madeleine Reberioux

Overview

Madeleine Rebérioux (née Amoudruz) born Chambéry, Savoy, France September 8, 1920 (d. 2005). French historian; Socialist. First woman President of Human Rights League, 1991. Signed Manifesto of 121, opposing Algerian war and torture, 1960. Opposed Vietnam War. Led UN Decade of Peace & Nonviolence, 2000. Called "Enough is Enough!" in Dec. 13, 2001 appeal for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Quotations

“I am an anti-colonialist. That is probably the only idea that has always engaged me.” (Paroles Historiques, Crabtree thesis p. 46; photo bibliomonde.com)

Vanessa Redgrave

Overview

Vanessa Redgrave born London, England January 30, 1937. Actress; active in human rights causes, including support for Irish independence, freedom for Soviet Jews, aid for Bosnian Muslims and Palestinian rights, and opposition to nuclear armament, the Vietnam War and the war on terrorism. Co-founder of Artists Against Racism, Peace and Progress Party; UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Quotations

"Human rights and human rights law is the only basis for creating a world that my children, your children, our grandchildren can live in." (CBS, May 31, 2007 rebroadcast; 2011 photo Wikipedia)

Elisabeth Rehn

Overview

Elisabeth Rehn (née Carlberg) born Helsinki, Finland April 6, 1935. United Nations Special Representative for human rights Bosnia 1995; UN Under-Secretary 1998; Finnish Minister of Equality Affairs 1991; Author of Women, War and Peace (2002).

Quotations

"Everyone knows women are victims of war, but they are never represented at the peace table." (Nov. 13, 2001; photo Wikipedia)

Mary Renault

Overview

Mary Renault (née Eileen Mary Challans) born Forest Gate, Essex, London, England September 4, 1905 (d. 1983). Historian and writer, leader of Black Sash women's movement against Apartheid.

Quotations

"It is better to learn war early from friends, than late from enemies." (The Bull from the Sea, p. 46, 1962; photo Wikipedia)

Celine Renooz

Overview

Céline Renooz born Liège, Belgium January 7, 1840 (d. 1928). Feminist author and lecturer; matriarchal pacifist.

Quotations

"Woman must count on herself alone to make the new world." (Prédestinée 1894 in Bland and Cross, Gender and Politics, p. 164)

Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey

Overview

Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey born Switzerland October 16, 1953. Psychotherapist working with international Conciliation Resources; leader of World Organisation Against Torture. Founded Geneva Call to coordinate international action against landmines, 1998; President of Swiss Parliament, 2000; Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

On her motivations: "[I have] a burning passion to change the world. . . Women are like this, I think, they often have more conviction. Even if it's difficult at the beginning they go ahead." (SwissInfo, photo World People's Blog)

Luise Rinser

Overview

Luise Rinser born Landsberg, Germany April 30, 1911 (d. 2002). German anti-militarist writer. Survived Nazi death sentence and imprisonment for anti-war activity, 1944. Protested Pershing missiles, 1974. First Green Party anti-nuclear candidate for president, 1984.

Quotations

“How stupid we women are. I am totally against ‘Women in the Army.’ The whole women’s movement for emancipation is a farce, if equality means that also women should be allowed to shoot human beings.” (Deutsche Volkszeitung, May 15, 1980)

“[Yeshua] accomplished only the heroic deed of perfect non-violence. The greatest of all heroic deeds. He said: 'This is the mission I give to you: Teach the unity of all life, teach love.'” (Miryam; photo badischezeitung)

Michele Rivasi

Overview

Michèle Rivasi born Montélimar, Drôme, France February 9, 1953. Ecologist. Founded Radiological Research Commission following Chernobyl disaster, 1986; co-sponsor of forum on nuclear pollution, Polynesia, 1999. Director of Greenpeace France, 2003-04. Member of National Assembly; Green Party member of European Parliament, 2009; Green Party candidate for French Presidency, 2017.

Quotations

“[T]his great message that is ours: ecology is peace. Growth, lobbies engender war. To save the climate, the oceans, our species and the others, we must stop all wars, all bombings. We do not need weapons but protection. My adversary is war.” (blog, Nov. 2, 2016; photo europarl.euro)

Annot Robinson

Overview

Annot Robinson (née Wilkie) born Montrose, Angus, Scotland June 8, 1874 (d. 1925). British schoolmistress; Socialist labor organizer. Powerful suffragist and pacifist orator. Twice arrested for suffrage protests; served 6 months in Holloway Prison and 3 weeks in Strangeways Prison for crashing into Parliament in a moving van, 1908. Founding member of WILPF, 1915. Women’s Peace Crusade, 1917; WILPF Manchester organizer, 1918-22; organizer of Zurich conference which she found “very inspiring,” 1919. Delegate to investigate Back and Tan militia violence, Ireland, 1920.

Quotations

“When women fight for their own hand then men will be relieved of the insufferable burden of chivalry and will be masked to fight in the light of day for their own hand.” (draft speech c. 1910, in June Balshaw, Suffrage, Solidarity and Strife, p. 304; photo chorltonhistory.blogspot.com)

Ellen Robinson

Overview

Ellen Robinson born Liverpool, England March 14, 1840 (d. 1912). Quaker schoolmistress; leading British peace activist. Opposed Boer War and British imperialism.

Quotations

“Moral force is superseding physical force in family and social life. Why not in international [life]?” (Jan. 15, 1890)

Mary Robinson

Overview

Mary Robinson born Ballina, Mayo, Ireland May 21, 1944. UN High Commissioner for Refugees 1997-2002; First woman president of Ireland 1990-7; International Human Rights Law professor; founding president Council of Women World Leaders 1996; Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience for Human Rights 2004.

Quotations

"In a society where the rights and potential of women are constrained, no man can be truly free. He may have power, but he will not have freedom." (A Voice for Somalia, Oct. 1992; photo Wikipedia)