Agnes von Zahn-Harnack born Giessen, Hessen, Germany June 18, 1884 (d. 1956). German writer, educator, historian, women’s rights leader. Postwar leader of Labor Program for Lasting Peace and Women’s Peace Circle, opposing nuclear weapons, 1947. Led national women’s organization opposition to anti-semitism, 1930. (photo 500 Jahre Reformation)
Razan Zaitouneh born April 29, 1977. Syrian lawyer and human rights activist. Received Anna Politkovskaya Award, 2011; shared Sakharov Prize, 2011; received International Women of Courage Award, 2013.
On the revolution: “The Syrian people need to be protected. At the same time, we say that we don't want this revolution to become armed, we want to remain peaceful. [Having] alternative solutions will help this revolution to remain peaceful. There should be a road map in cooperation between the international community and the Syrian opposition to [find] new alternatives and solutions.” (Radio Free Europe, Oct. 7, 2011; portrait metro.lu)
Stasa Zajović born Nikšić, Montenegro, Yugoslavia January 25, 1953. Co-founder and coordinator Women in Black against the war 1991; organized international network Women in Peace 1997; sponsored Women’s Court 2015; first arrested 1984.
“Our feminist ethic is taking responsibility and caring for a certain time, context and space, but also for the whole world in which we live.” (Danas, Oct. 9, 2016; photo vecernji.hr)
María Zambrano Alarcón born Vélez-Málaga, Andalusia, Spain April 22, 1904 (d. 1991). Leading 20th century Spanish philosopher. Exiled by civil war, 1939-84.
"Peace is much more than taking a stance: it is a revolution, a way of living, a way of inhabiting the planet, a way of being a person." (periodismohumano)
On the Gulf War: “There will not be a true state of peace until there are valid and effective moral aims for peace, until violence does not cancel customs, until peace is a vocation, a passion, a faith that inspires and enlightens." (“The Dangers of Peace”, 1990) (photo cvc.cervantes.es)
Elisabetta Zamparutti born Cermes, Bolzano, Italy October 1, 1964. Radical nonviolence advocate; opponent of drones, death penalty. Member of European Parliament, 2008-present.
"It is the manifestation of the Reason of State, State Secrecy, showing itself again after fifty years with tremendous technological and structural capabilities running amok, the same manifestation that Ike Eisenhower prophetically warned against a half-century ago in referring to the 'military-industrial-congressional complex' as the greatest threat to the world and the United States itself. Emblematic of this point of view is the use of the United States of armed drones for the 'targeted' elimination of certain people based on decision processes veiled in secrecy... The Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon declared that 'The use of armed drones, like every other arm, should be subject to international law, including international human rights law.' We believe that an International Pact to at least regulate such practices should be put in act if not, as I believe should be done, to ban them outright, as has been done with anti-personnel mines and weapons of mass destruction." (introduction to Hands off Cain Report 2014; photo liquida.it)
Leyla Zana born Silvan, Diyarbakır May 3, 1961. Turkish Kurd politician; first Kurdish woman elected to national parliament, 1991. Sentenced to 15-year prison term for wearing Kurdish colors, 1994.
"As human beings, naturally, Kurds also demand to be trained and educated in their mother tongues." (accepting Sakharov Prize from prison, Jan. 17, 1996; photo malpress.com)
Dorothy "Dottie" Miller Zellner born New York, NY January 14, 1938. Feminist; peace advocate; civil rights activist; actively opposed Israeli occupation and Gaza War. Ran New England Regional Office of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which led civil rights movement and opposed Vietnam War; co-editor of its newsletter Student Voice; arrested at CORE demonstration in Miami, 1960; SNCC staff member in Mississippi, summer 1964. She described the civil rights movement as "average women doing heroic things." (Women's Voices for Change, July 29, 2014)
"If you're Jewish and you're against the Israeli occupation, you should speak out as a Jew in the name of the Jewish tradition of social justice, you should say to the government of Israel 'No, no, you do not speak for me,' you should come out and demonstrate." (Mondoweis, August 23, 2009; photo Geneseo)
Angie Zelter born London, England June 5, 1951. British nonviolent activist. International Woman's Peace Service; Snowball Campaign; acquitted for Trident Ploughshares protest, 2000. Arrested over 100 times, imprisoned 16 times. Awarded Sean MacBride Peace Prize, 1997; received Right Livelihood Award, 2001.
"Dismantling the machinery of destruction is thus a practical act of love that we can all join in. Please join us—together we are unstoppable." (Right Livelihood Award acceptance speech, Dec. 7, 2001; photo rightlivelihood.org)
Clara Zetkin born Weiderau, Saxony, Germany July 5, 1852 (d. 1933). German Communist leader who opposed World War I; anti-racist; as oldest member of Reichstag she opposed Hitler.
"When the men kill, it is up to us women to fight for the preservation of life." (Nov. 7, 1914; photo de.Wikipedia)
Else Marie Bengtssen Zeuthen born Copenhagen, Denmark October 10, 1897 (d. 1975). Member of Danish Parliament; international president of WILPF, 1956-65; delegate to UN; opposed NATO and Spanish Civil War; promoted foreign aid; protected Jews during Nazi occupation.
"Working to help these young people under very difficult circumstances helped us to feel that in the face of Nazi oppressors we were faithful to our League's ideal of tolerance and compassion." (in Randall, Improper Bostonian, p. 415; photo WILPF Swarth. Peace Col.)
Polina Zherebtsova born Grozny, Chechnya, USSR March 20, 1985. Russian-Chechen diarist who chronicled the terror of three wars, including her wounding at age 14. Reported on war crimes; exiled, 2012.
"People came over and told us that the missile that had fallen on the market, the one that had wounded me, had been launched from the Caspian. Journalists had uncovered this news. Within only five days, the Russian army had admitted it. They had aimed the missile at another target—at the stock exchange building—but they missed. It fell on the peaceful market.
I just cannot believe that this is the third war in my life! The first was in 1994 (I was nine years old); the second, in the summer of 1996 (from 6-22 August; I am 11 years old) – how many neighbours perished then! And here’s the third one. Autumn, 1999 (I am fourteen)." (diary, October 29, 1999; photo wordyu.ru)
Khaleda Zia born Dinajpur, East Bengal August 15, 1945. First woman prime minister of Bangladesh 1991-96, 2001-06; actively supported UN peacekeeping; under house arrest by opposition, 1971.
"We believe that peace around the world can be built and strengthened through enhanced dialogue, tolerance and understanding among peoples." (addressing UN, Sept. 14, 2005; photo bangladeshnationalistparty)
Dalia Ziada born Cairo, Egypt January 2, 1982. Nonviolent activist; poet. Leader of 2011 Arab Spring protests at Tahrir Square.
"Change is not impossible. It is time to stop using our muscles blindly. Let's try using our intellect in innovative, creative ways to pressure decision makers and end dictatorship, tyranny and the suppression practiced against us." (Sustainable Options for Youth, Feb. 12, 2011; photo http://bit.ly/xJ7ZIp)
Latifa ibn Ziaten born Tétuan, Morocco January 1, 1960. After Muslim extremist murdered her son she took on mission of peace and reconciliation. Founded Imad Association for Youth and Peace, 2012. Received International Women of Courage Award, 2016.
"When I go to schools, prisons for minors, I pass on to these young people a testimony of peace, tolerance and respect. My objective is that there will never again be a Mohamed Merah." (the terrorist; AJC Forum, April 15, 2014; photo northafricapost.com)
Eleonora Zielinska born December 11, 1945. Polish expert on violence against women; feminist human rights lawyer; law professor. (photo http://bit.ly/zzkHP7)
Luise Zietz (née Kőrner) born Bargteheide, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany March 25, 1865 (d. 1922). German Socialist leader. First woman to lead German political party. Led Independent Socialist Democratic USPD Party that continued to oppose World War I, 1917. Member of Weimar Parliament, 1919. Proposed International Women’s Day, 1910.
Helen Zille born Johannesburg, South Africa March 9, 1951. Politician and anti-Apartheid activist. As journalist, exposed murder of Steve Biko. Active in Black Sash End Conscription Campaign, 1983. Mayor of Capetown, 2006-09; Premier of Western Cape, 2009–present. Arrested for march against drug dealers, 2007. Called for sanctions on Mugabe regime of Zimbabwe, 2008.
“Why are people on a legal and peaceful anti-drug march placed under heavy police surveillance, harassment and arrest?” (Sept. 9, 2007, in Politics Web, Feb. 9, 2011; photo The Right Perspective)
Ellen Lee Ziskind born Lowell, MA September 5, 1939. Freedom Rider arrested Jackson MS 1961; became Boston psychiatric social worker.
"[T]hey didn’t really have anything interesting to say; they just got on a bus because they believed in equality. It wasn’t something that they mulled over." (Mississippi Freedom Summer 50th Anniversary, May 29, 2011; photo Miss. Archives)
Jean Zwickel (née Wicks) born St. Louis, MO August 3, 1913 (d. 2005). Peace activist. Member of Gandhian Harlem Ashram, 1940s. Member of FOR. Lost job as French teacher for refusing to help recruitment efforts during World War II. Co-founded the American League for Puerto Rico’s Independence. Marched with Cesar Chavez; arrested at Concord Depot protest, 1987. Protested Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq War; active in Vieques protest.
“It is not our mission to tell Puerto Ricans what methods they should use to achieve their liberation, but rather to appeal to the world community—peacemakers within and without the churches, all those seeking justice—to help bring about a peaceful solution lest further violence erupt.” (Voices for Independence, preface; photo peacehost.net)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
