Maria Voce

Overview

Maria Voce Emmaus born Aiello Calabro, Calabria, Italy July 16, 1937. Italian lawyer. Second head of global Focolare Movement, lay Catholic peace and humanitarian movement, 2008.

Quotations

“The response to the ‘piecemeal world war’ is to build world peace ‘one piece at a time,’ through small steps, and concrete gestures. Everyone has a role to play. Everyone is responsible. . . reinventing peace means loving other countries as our own, loving other peoples, ethnicities and cultures as our own.” (to UNESCO, Paris, Nov. 15, 2016; photo asianews.it)

Elena Vacarescu

Overview

Elena Văcărescu born Bucharest September 21, 1864 (d. 1947). Romanian poet, author, and folklorist; first and only woman ambassador to League of Nations 1925-6 (interim 1922-4, 1926-39); delegate to two peace conferences 1919, 1945; co-founder UNESCO’s predecessor, International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation 1924 to promote intellectual cooperation, human rights, disarmament, collective security, and peaceful settlement; two-time laureate of French Academy.

Quotations

"After losing our best officers and bravest soldiers, we at last became masters of the place, but when weary and haggard, mere wrecks of humanity, we tried to regain our encampments, we had to wade through a lake of blood in which corpses lay thick under the starlit sky." (her father’s account of 1877 Battle of Plevna, Kings and Queens I Have Known, p. 150, 1904; photo Wikipedia)

Hedi Vaccaro Frehner

Overview

Hedi Vaccaro Frehner born near Zürich, Switzerland January 1, 1926 (d. 2014). Italian peace activist; mathematician; founding head Italian Fellowship of Reconciliation 1962ff.; won National Prize for Culture of Peace 1992; long fast against India-Pakistan War 1972; opposed Vietnam War, nuclear missiles, conscription.

Quotations

"I've always felt that my life was guided; No, I've never had to choose. When I did act, I acted because I understood within me that those were the right things to do. My life was not the result of a rational, predetermined path.” (quote and photo “Movimento Internazionale della Riconciliazione 60th anniversary)

Else von Hollander

Overview

Else von Hollander born Riga, Latvia December 13, 1885 (d. 1932). Founder of nonviolent Bruderhof movement, 1920; sister of Emmy; secretary to Eberhard Arnold.

Quotations

"It is wonderful to live in brotherhood. The love and faithfulness of our brotherhood is a miracle." (Emmy Arnold, Joyful Pilgrimage, p. 184; photo Ancestry.com)

Nevena Vuckovic Sahovic

Overview

Nevena Vučković Šahović born Belgrade August 2, 1955. UN expert on rights of the child 2003-9; human rights lawyer; President of Child Rights Centre Belgrade; judge International Children's Peace Prize.

Quotations

"Children as rights-holders must be able to have violations of their rights considered." ("Children in the Face of Genocide and Crimes against Humanity." UN Human Rights Council)