Krista van Velzen

Overview

Krista van Velzen born Sint Nicolaasga, Friesland, Netherlands September 15, 1974. Peace activist and politician. Socialist member of Parliament, 2002-10. Organized anti-nuclear hike from Brussels to Moscow, 1995. Joined For Mother Earth Belgium in nonviolent opposition to nuclear weapons and power. Protested Czech Temelin nuclear plant; protested Kosovo war with walk from Hague to NATO Brussels, 1998. Twice arrested at Scotland's Faslane naval base for hammering nuclear submarine 2007, 2013.

Quotations

“Nobody wants [nuclear weapons] to be used. The best way to ensure this is that you simply do not have them. For that reason alone, nuclear weapons have to leave the world. But it is even dangerous if they are not used.” (SP. interview; photo Wikipedia)

Angela Vallina

Overview

Ángela Vallina de la Noval born Castrillon, Asturias, Spain July 6, 1959. Spanish political activist. Mayor of Castrillon, 2003-14. Left representative of European Parliament on mission to Palestine, 2014. Opposed Colombia joining NATO. Sailed with Boat to Gaza; protested Israeli Gaza killings, 2018.

Quotations

“How far does ethnic cleansing in Gaza have to go for the EU to act?” (contrainformacion, May 20, 2018)

“Colombia needs peace agreements to be implemented without destabilizing foreign interference. The normalization of the situation by all parties involved. The EU, which contributes money in the process, must be a supporting actor. Peace belongs to all of us.” (twitter, May 30, 2018)

On migrants’ drowning: “Europe is doing everything wrong. The same Europe that created the wars and the conflicts these women, men and children have been escaping deprive the same persons of any rights once they reach Europe.” (derrysinnfein, Jun. 24, 2015; 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)

Mathilde Vaerting

Overview

Mathilde Themis Vaerting born Messingen, Lower Saxony, Germany January 10, 1884 (d. 1977). German professor of education; psychologist; authority on gender differences. Showed that dominance by either sex could cause war; fired and banned by Nazis, 1933.

Quotations

“The more power-free interaction is interspersed in a people, the greater is its tendency to cooperate with other peoples, and its ability to achieve peace.” (“The Structure of the Peaceful Human”, 1933, p.8)

“It is absolutely essential that humanity should discover ways and means for the permanent realisation of the ideal of sex equality, and for the permanent prevention of either type of monosexual dominance.” (The Dominant Sex, 1923, p. 268; photo Danish Peace Academy)

Marie-Claude Vaillant-Couturier

Overview

Marie-Claude Vaillant-Couturier (née Vogel) born Paris, France November 3, 1912 (d. 1996). French Communist politican; photojournalist; Resistance heroine; arrested 1942, survived Auschwitz, Ravenbrück; Secretary General pacifist Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF) 1946; opposed Vietnam War 1949, Algerian War, Korean War; witness at Nüremberg Trials.

Quotations

“We know the anguish of American mothers who are losing their sons in this useless war. . . We ask you. . . to do everything possible to stop the war of extermination being conducted against the Korean people, while at the same time saving your own sons from destruction.” (Sept. 15, 1952 WIDF appeal; photo memoire vive)

Louise Van den Plas

Overview

Louise Van Den Plas born Brussels, Belgium January 24, 1877 (d. 1968). Pacifist; founder of the Belgian Christian feminist movement.

Chris Van Den Wyngaert

Overview

Christine Van Den Wyngaert born Antwerp, Belgium April 2, 1952. Former singer and songwriter; professor of international law. Judge of World Court in arrest warrant case, 2000-02; judge of Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY), 2003-09; judge International Criminal Court, 2009-present. League of Human Rights prizewinner, 2006. Presiding judge in sentencing Bosnian Croat commander Ivica Rajic for 1993 destruction of Stupni Do, 2005; sentenced Bosnian Serb soldier Dragan Zelenović for torture and rape of eight Muslim women as crimes against humanity, 2007.

Quotations

"The sentence should reflect that the crimes were committed on a large scale and were of a particularly violent nature and caused severe pain to the victims and their relatives." (May 8, 2006, ICC Rajic trial, p.273; photo ICTY)

Adrienne van Melle-Hermans

Overview

Adrienne van Melle-Hermans born The Hague, Netherlands April 25, 1931 (d. 2007). Dutch peacemaker; opposed racism against immigrants. Opened contact with Eastern European women during Cold War; co-founded Dutch Women for Peace, 1979; opened clinic for children in Balkan War, 1994; nominated for Nobel Peace Prize, 2005.

Quotations

"I found that it was the men in the governments who made peace, but that peace can only happen on the ground if the women are involved." (World People's Blog, February 1, 2009; photo 1000 Nobel women)

Jennie Vanlerberghe

Overview

Jennie Vanlerberghe born Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium May 14, 1945. Founded Mothers for Peace Ypres for aid to Yugoslavia, 1992; expanded to Somalia, Afghanistan; war correspondent; nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 2011; Ypres Peace Prize 2009.

Quotations

“In Palestine and Bosnia, I have seen that the women who muster their forces back after the conflict and rebuild the country. They bring the family back together. Their husbands and sons were war criminals and rapists, and I think it's just the women, however difficult, were able there to deal with it and move on with life.” (Vrede.be, March 17, 2007; photo demorgen.be)

Simone Veil

Overview

Simone Veil (née Jacob) born Nice, France July 13, 1927. "First Lady of Europe". First woman president European Parliament 1979; first woman winner of Charlemagne Prize for European unity and peace 1981; Auschwitz survivor.

Quotations

"I am placing my hope in Europe, in a Europe that has overcome hatred and barbarism to commit itself to achieving peace and solidarity between the peoples of Europe."

"What a country calls its vital interests are not things that help its people live, but things that help it make war." (Ecrites Historiques, 1960; photo femmescelebres.com)

Willemijn Verloop

Overview

Willemijn Verloop born Utrecht, Netherlands February 14, 1970. Dutch peace activist. Founded War Child Netherlands in response to Bosnian conflict, 1994.

Quotations

"The war had a devastating effect on children. They were often withdrawn, fearful and distrustful. The creative workshops took the child in them back up." (Rotary Neth. Interview, 2010; photo War Child Netherlands)

Jeannette Vermeersch

Overview

Jeannette Vermeersch (née Julie Vermeersch) born La Madaleine, Nord, France November 26, 1910 (d. 2001). French Communist leader who consistently opposed wars; demanded Immediate Withdrawal from Vietnam 1950; opposed nuclear weapons in France 1949; opposed Algerian War; against German rearmament 1957; openly opposed Russian invasion of Hungary 1957.

Quotations

“You forget, ladies and gentlemen, the Vietnamese people are well off in their land. It is not they who have invaded, but you!” (Jan. 27, 1950 National Assembly debate, in Ruscio, p. 35; photo ina.fr)

Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold

Overview

Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold born Solothurn, Switzerland March 11, 1941. Ethnologist; advocate for peace in Africa. Member of Swiss parliament and European Council. Her organization 1000 PeaceWomen, also known as PeaceWomen Across the Globe, nominated 1000 women for 2005 Nobel Peace Prize to highlight women's efforts in forging peace.

Quotations

“Everywhere I meet women who perform reconstruction and peace work in extremely dangerous surroundings. It is women who are victims of war. It is women who weep for the dead; they are the survivors who press for a return to peace. Courageous and resolute, and without regard for personal safety, they demand peace.” (Peacework, Dec. 2005; photo Wikipedia)

Madeleine Vernet

Overview

Madeleine Vernet born Le Houlme, Normandy, France September 3, 1878 (d. 1949). French journalist, poet and teacher; anarchist, militant pacifist who opposed all wars; founded League of Women Against War 1921; started Volonté de Paix 1927; promoted conscientious objection.

Quotations

Mothers, sacred cradle of humanity
Sow, sow love and brotherhood
("Poem To Mothers!" March 1916)

"Peace is not merely the absence of war, it is also material security." (March 19, 1918, in Sandi Cooper, "French Feminists." Peace & Change, p. 24, Jan. 2011; photo estelnegre.org)

Maria Verone

Overview

Maria Vérone born Paris, France June 20, 1874 (d. 1938). French feminist and pacifist lawyer, journalist and editor; first woman to plead before French appeals court 1903; 20-year president of French League for Rights of Women.

Quotations

"To suppress war, women must vote." (motto of League for Rights of Women)

"War against war!" (Rome, May 15, 1914, in Karen Offen, European Feminisms, p. 249, 2000; photo jeanlouislebreton.com)

Vera Vohlídalová

Overview

Vera Vohlídalová born London, England February 8, 1942. Librarian. Child of exiled Czech-German parents. Founded Building of Peace and Reconciliation, Liberec, Czech Republic, 1995. Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

“Culture is not only an uplifting of the human spirit, human art, thought and enjoyment but it also includes the art of basic human understanding, listening to, helping and assisting one another, of knowing oneself as well as others.” (Liber Quarterly 2000; photo World Citizens Blog)

Antje Vollmer

Overview

Antje Vollmer born Lübbecke, Westphalia, Germany May 31, 1943. Lutheran pastor. Served in Bundestag for 22 years. Joined Green Party, 1983; Vice-President Bundestag 1994-2005. Arrested for peace demonstration, Dresden, 1983. Early voice against NATO expansion, 1997; opposed Kosovo as violation of international law; supported conscientious objection law. Criticized Afghanistan war; strongly opposed Iraq War; signed appeal "Another War in Europe? Not in our Name!", 2014. Awarded Hannah Arendt Prize, 1998.

Quotations

"Strengthening the UN, international law, legality, building political structures and institutions—all this has priority before war fantasies." (Die Zeit, April 27, 2003)

Hanelore Vonier

Overview

Hanelore Vonier born Weilmünster, Limburg, Germany September 27, 1951. German expert on matriarchy and peaceful societies.

Quotations

"Peaceful societies are contemporary groups of people who effectively foster interpersonal harmony and who rarely permit violence or warfare to interfere with their lives." (matriarchy.info; photo World People's Blog)