Anna Marie Siemsen born Westphalia, Germany January 18, 1882 (d. 1952). German; professor; peace educator; member of WILPF. Protested World Wars I and II; voted against military expansion as Socialist pacifist member of Reichstag, 1928-30; exiled from Germany, 1933; worked for European unity after WWII.
"Never Again a German Army!" (speech, Cologne, Jan. 1950; photo http://bit.ly/ADeM9D)
Simone Signoret (née Kaminker) born Wiesbaden, Germany March 25, 1921 (d. 1985). Famous French actress, peace activist; opposed Algeria War; rejected nuclear weapons; introduced Jane Fonda to anti-Vietnam War rallies; publicly opposed Russian invasion of Hungary.
“For me there are no laws. . . You do what you want and know is right. That is the only law. Individual courage is the only interesting thing in life.” (People, June 12, 1978; 1959 sketch by Nicholas Volpe, Wikipedia)
Helvi L. Sipilä born Helsinki, Finland May 5, 1915. Finnish lawyer. Highest-ranking woman in UN as first woman Assistant Secretary General, 1972-80; organized first International Women's Conference Mexico, 1975; started first development fund for women, 1976.
"Peace is only the situation in which a nation has no need for war. . . The only way to prevent war is to strive for justice in the world by reducing discrimination and injustices." (Helsingen Sonomat, May 5, 2000; photo UN)
Monica Sjöö born Härnösand, Västernorrland, Sweden December 31, 1938 (d. 2005). Swedish radical anarcho-feminist, ecologist, author, and painter. Active in anti-Vietnam War movement. Joined 100 Greenham Peace Camp women in pilgrimage to Stonehenge, 1985.
“When we look around today at the world generated by the male Gods of patriarchal rule, we see warfare, degradation, suffering, and sadism on a scale such as earth has never seen, nor will ever see again—for of course if we don’t end it, it will surely end us.
"This perpetual success of war and failure of peace is then said to be 'the human condition'—but it is only the condition of humans under patriarchy.
"We must become beings who do not wish to control life, but only to listen to its music, and dance it. . . But it is our only alternative to mass death—whether by war, or by total global mechanization. The patriarchal God has only one commandment: Punish life for being what it is. The Goddess also has only one commandment: Love life, for it is what it is.” (The Great Cosmic Mother; photo Green Woman Stores)
Åse Gruda Skard (née Grude Koht) born Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway December 2, 1906 (d. 1985). First Norwegian woman to obtain psychology degree; pioneering child psychologist. Only woman on Norwegian delegation to the founding of the UN, San Francisco, 1945. Women's rights advocate. Supporter of UNESCO, promoting its “world-mindedness.”
"It hastened all work for international co-ordination. . . It is a matter of building such a strong sense of unity in the world that the next war is not going to happen." (1949, in Psychologi, 2005; photo Wikipedia)
Torild Skard born Oslo, Norway November 29, 1936. Psychologist and second-generation peacemaker, daughter of Åse Skard. Chair of UNICEF, 1988-89; as UNICEF Director for West and Central Africa, rescued children of war, 1994-98. Deputy to Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, 1986-94. First woman president of the Lagting, the upper house of parliament.
On female conscription: “Forcing women to do military service to legitimize it is completely untenable. . . The result is that women are militarized, and the military is essentially not changed. . . [I]n today’s world it is more important to increase the focus of both women and men on disarmament, non-violent conflict resolution, peacekeeping, peace negotiations and the reconstruction of communities than to broaden the basis for military activities.” (International Alliance of Women, March 24, 2015; photo psychologitidscrif)
Inger Skjelsbæk born Oslo, Norway September 26, 1969. Norwegian psychologist and peace researcher specializing in sexual violence in war. Deputy Director, Peace Research Institute, Oslo, 2009-15.
“Working towards greater equality is therefore not only important in its own right, but also because it might also weaken the basis for rape to make sense to male perpetrators in war settings.” (“The Elephant in the Room: Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War”, 2010, p. 45; photo prio.org)
Mary Guillian Smieton born Cambridge, England December 5, 1902 (d. 2005). International personnel expert; UN Undersecretary, 1946; first Director of UN Personnel, 1946; board of International Civil Service Commission; UK representative to UNESCO, 1968.
"As in Unesco itself, the wider effect is obtained when this concept of international understanding is deliberately brought in to inspire the teaching of all relevant subjects." (UNESCO meeting Cheltenham, Aug. 7, 1966; photo Nat. Port. Gal.)
Ethel Smyth born Sidcup, Kent, England April 22, 1858 (d. 1944). British musical composer of operas, songs, chamber music, piano and organ music. Radical feminist; imprisoned two months for violent protests, 1911. Wrote suffragist anthem "March of the Women", 1911.
"Firm in reliance, laugh a defiance,
(Laugh in hope, for sure is the end)
March, march, many as one.
Shoulder to Shoulder and friend to friend."
(final verse of suffragist anthem "March of the Women", 1911; 1901 portrait by Sargent)
Ethel Snowden (née Annakin) born Pannal, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England September 8, 1881 (d. 1951). British suffragist, feminist orator and author; opposed World War I; led Women's Peace Crusade; founder WILPF 1915; Christian Socialist.
"Feminism does not seek the extinction of strength and courage in men, nor of beauty and softness and tenderness in women, but the recognition that these fine and lovely qualities are the heritage of men and women alike—human qualities which all human beings have in germ, and which all human beings are entitled to cultivate and to use without question or reproof." (Feminist Movement, ch. 1, 1913; photo Spartacus Educational)
Karin Söder (née Bergenfur) born Frykerud, Värmland, Sweden November 30, 1928. Member of Parliament, 1971-91; first woman Foreign Minister, 1976-78; first woman to head major Swedish political party, 1985. Chair of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 1978-79; Chair of Save the Children Sweden, 1983-95; two-time President of Nordic Council, 1984-85, 1989-90.
"Nuclear weapons kill immediately and kill over time. . . Massive use of existing nuclear arsenals would destroy all life on earth, a global suicide. . . The question now is if we have the collective will and wisdom to step out from the shadow of annihilation and transform the Vision of a World Free of Nuclear Weapons into reality." (Swedish Declaration on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, April 11, 2010; photo Wikipedia)
Dorothee Sölle born Cologne, Germany September 30, 1929 (d. 2003). German liberation theologian; pacifist led protests against Apartheid, war in Central America and nuclear weapons; book The Arms Race Kills Even Without War, 1983; feminist.
"It is possible to violate laws and regulations governing property without committing violence against human beings." (On War and Love, 1983; photo liberationtheology.org)
Julia Solly (née Muspratt) born Seaforth, Lancashire, England December 21, 1862 (d. 1953). South African botanist; pacifist, feminist, suffragist, and social reformer. Opposed Boer War, World War I, and Nazi regime. Co-founded South African Peace and Arbitration Society opposing World War I, June 1915. First woman member of South African scientific society.
“Never will or can war end war—the nations that sow the dragon’s teeth of armed men and instruments must, at intervals, reap a crop of hatred and mistrust.” (Jus Suffragi, Sept. 1, 1915, p. 345)
Myrtle Solomon born Kensington, London, England June 9, 1921 (d. 1987). Lesbian pacifist; head of War Resisters International, 1975-86.
"Peace is not just the absence of war, nor a lull in the inevitable storm. Nor is nonviolence a secret weapon to be used to stop a particular war." (IFOR Patterns in Reconciliation #7, p. 39, 1972; photo wri-irg.org)
Simonetta Sommaruga born Zug, Switzerland May 14, 1960. Pianist, Socialist member of Swiss parliament 1999; on foreign affairs committee and head of delegation of European parliament; Federal Council Justice Minister 2019; president of private development organization Swissaid 2003.
On her visit to Niger: "Hunger is a scandal." (Feb. 14, 2007)
"We pay the price for the failures of the missed integration policy of the last years today." (IBNLive, Sept. 29, 2011; photo Wikipedia)
Laila Soueif born London, England May 1, 1956. Egyptian math professor; active protester of human rights; mother of two activist daughters Sanaa and Mona Seif, son Aala; leader of Tahrir Square revolution 2011; first demonstration as student Dec. 1971 against student arrests; university professors’ organization got less military control 2003; co-founded Egyptian Association against Torture 1993; protested repression at Mahalla 2008; physically intervened in arrests in revolution 2011.
“There will be no way to govern this country unless there are radical changes that address the demands of the poor, the youth, and the most marginalized.” (Nicola Pratt interview, May 10, 2012, Jadaliyya; photo 3aan.com)
Annike Spalde born Sweden May 26, 1969. Swedish peace activist with Ofog (Mischief) DISARM group; arrested for break-in at Bofors arms plant 2008; jailed six months; protested arms for Indonesian use in Timor 1996; arrested in Bread Not Bombs campaign against Trident sub at Barrow 1998.
“The [British] government has repeatedly stated a willingness to use NWs [nuclear weapons]. But, it’s important to see that these weapons are being used without being fired. It’s like if someone has a loaded gun and says that he or she is prepared to use it, then this person gets enormous power over other people. To threaten to use NWs is a form of international terrorism, threatening to use violence to secure one’s own interests.” (Preston Crown Court, Oct. 19, 1999; photo Kristen Vanster)
Emma Sproson (née Lloyd) born West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England April 13, 1867 (d. 1936). British suffragist, twice imprisoned 1907 for suffrage protests; leader of nonviolent Women's Freedom League; twice jailed 1911 for refusing to license her dog, as protest against tax without vote.
"[W]hat differentiates the true reformer from the false is the true sacrifices—all, if need be, not caring for consequences." (The Vote, June 24, 1911; photo wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk)
Germaine de Staël (née Anne Louise Germaine Necker) born Paris, France April 22, 1766 (d. 1817). Liberal Swiss philosopher and author; exiled opponent of Napoleon 1804; early (1813) advocate of abolition of slave trade.
On Napoleon: "None of the arts of peace at all suit Bonaparte; he finds no amusement but in the violent crises produced by battles." (conclusion of 10 Years in Exile, 1821; photo fr.Wikipedia)
Jill Stallard born Wales September 24, 1952. Welsh nonviolent anti-nuclear activist; National Secretary CND Cymru; organized Chernobyl child aid; protested Gulf War environmental hazard 1993; supported Palestinian defense of olive trees, protested Israeli wall; sent 103 Welsh busloads to London against Iraq War.
"[T]he attack upon Iraq was a crime against peace and would add that taking violent military action, killing people and destroying their environment is also a crime against humanity." (WalesOnline, Oct. 14, 2003)
"Nuclear power is past its sell by date, unsustainable and not the way forward for a nuclear-free Wales for the future of our children and our children's children." (Greenpeace, April 25, 2001)
"Women see party politics as patriarchal, aggressive, bullying and tribal." (BBC, April 29, 2004)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
