Philippine van Heerdt tot Eversberg-Quarles van Ufford born Ketandan, Java, Dutch East Indies December 5, 1862 (d. 1939). Dutch peace activist, feminist, and artist. President, World Union of Women for International Peace, 1937. Leader of Society for League of Nations and Peace. (photo het biografische ortraat)
Helen Samu Hakena born Gogohe, Buka Island, Bougainville September 13, 1955. Bougainville peacemaker in 1990-2001 war; co-founded Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency (LNWDA) 1992 with motto “women weaving Bougainville together.”
“Colonialism and the war have eroded women’s traditional leadership, conflict resolution and custodial roles. Through our advocacy work we are trying to re-establish women’s roles.”
“We can break the cycle of violence by putting women in positions of power.” (Neena Bhandari, India Voice; photo apwld.com)
Catherine Hamlin (née Nicholson) born Sydney, Australia January 24, 1924. Obstetrician/gynecologist. Received Alternative Nobel Prize for providing Ethiopian women surgery for obstetric fistulas (often resulting from sexual violence), 2009.
"These are the most to be pitied in the world. They’re alone in the world, ashamed of their injuries." (personal blog, Aug. 26, 2008; 2006 photo Wikipedia)
Marian Fleming Harwood (née Reid) born Grenoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland March 9, 1846 (d. 1934). Australian linguist, scholar, and peace activist. Co-founded Sydney Peace Society, 1907. Delegate to Stockholm Peace Conference, 1910. Founding editor of journal Pax, 1912. Supported League of Nations; quietly opposed World War I. Endowed children’s peace prize.
“[A]rms will never lead to peace, and that we must appeal to reason and justice rather than to force.” (Pax, Aug. 1914; photo dictionaryofSydney.org)
Alice Henry born Melbourne, Australia March 21, 1857 (d. 1943). Pioneering Australian pacifist and suffragist; journalist; labor leader. Anti-racist, anti-imperialist social democrat. Strongly opposed World War I; opposed Boer War.
On the Boer War: “[T]hat war was cruel and that those who brought about wars were sinners and called it ‘something between a picnic, a battle and a fortune hunting expedition.’” (Power of Pen, 1991, p.53; photo c. 1920 Austr. Dict. Bio)
Te Puea Herangi born Whatiwhatihoe, North Island, New Zealand November 9, 1883 (d. 1952). Maori pacifist leader. Opposed Maori Wars. Led nonviolent resistance to WWI conscription at draft resistance center, Te Paina, Mangatawhiri.
The basis of her pacifism, quoting her grandfather king’s words of 1881: “Listen, listen, the sky above, the earth below, and all the people assembled here. The killing of men must stop; the destruction of land must stop. I shall bury my patu in the earth and it shall not rise again. . . Waikato, lie down. Do not allow blood to flow from this time on.” (NZ History Online: Resistance to Conscription; photo Whakapapa)
Margaret Ann Hercus born Hamilton, New Zealand February 24, 1942. Law professor; politician. First Minister of Women's Affairs, 1984-87; Ambassador to UN, 1988; UN representative to Cyprus, 1998; served on panel on UN Peace Operations, 2000.
Noreen Hewett (née Emerson) born Australia May 6, 1920 (d. 2012). Australian journalist, communist, and women’s leader. Co-founded Save Our Sons (SOS), opposing draft for Vietnam War. First woman journalist to visit People’s Republic of China, 1959.
"Don't get angry, get organised!"
"We wanted mothers to stand up and say, 'I'm a mother and I don't want my son to go' or 'I don't want any son to go, not just mine.'" (Valley, July 21, 2015; photo smh.com.au)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
