International Congress of Women

The name International Congress of Women was used by a number of feminist and pacifist events since 1878.

Paris, 1878

The First International Congress of Women's Rights convened in Paris in 1878 upon the occasion of the third Paris World's Fair. An historic event attended by many representatives, seven resolutions were passed at the meeting, beginning with the idea that "the adult woman is the equal of the adult man".^[1] The subject of women's suffrage was deliberately avoided at the Congress, as it was too controversial and not supported by all the attendees. Hubertine Auclert wrote a speech calling for the right to vote for French women, but was not allowed to present it to the Congress. Instead, she published it later.^[2] Emily Venturi gave a memorable closing speech, in which she declared

Last evening a gentleman who seemed a bit skeptical about the advantages of our congress asked me, ‘Well Madame, what great truth have you proclaimed to the world?’ I replied to him, ‘Monsieur, we have proclaimed a woman is a human being.’ He laughed. ‘But, Madame, that is a platitude.’ So it is; but when this platitude...is recognized by human laws, the face of the world will be transformed. Certainly, then, there would be not need for us to assembly in congress to demand the rights of woman.

— Karen Offen, European Feminisms: A Political History, 1700-1950, 2000

London, June 26 - July 7, 1899

The International Congress of Women of 1899 was convened by the International Council of Women in conjunction with its 2nd Quinquennial Meeting.^[3] The Congress was divided into 5 sections, with programming in each: Education, Professional, Political, Social, and Industrial and Legislative. The transactions of the Congress were edited by the then Countess of Aberdeen, who was president of the International Council of Women at the time of the congress, and published in a set along with the Report of Council Transactions from the International Congress of Women's 2nd Quinquennial meeting.^[4][5]

Berlin, June 1904

This conference aimed its focus on four main sections; education, social work/institutions, the legal position of women (especially suffrage), and professions open for women. Officers of the German Council of Women were put in charge of this conference. At this conference, the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA) was founded. Along with Susan B. Anthony, Mary Church Terrell spoke at the International Congress Of Women in Berlin.^[6]

Amsterdam, June 1908

Isabella Ford had attended this conference.^[7] Another important woman spoke at that conference, Carrie Chapman Catt. She discussed the importance of women's history being part of the world's history. Women came from South Africa and Australia to hear about the success of the International Congress of Women. A male delegate from "Great Britain's Men's League for Women's Enfranchisement also attended.^[8]

Toronto, June 24-30, 1909

This congress was held under the auspices of the National Council of Women of Canada^[9] immediately following the 4th Quinquennial Meeting of the International Council of Women.^[10] Sessions were held on education, art, health, industries, laws concerning women and children, literature, professions for women, social work, and moral reform. Notable speakers included Jane Addams, Elizabeth Cadbury, Anna Hvoslef, Millicent Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland, Rosalie Slaughter Morton, Eliza Ritchie, Alice Salomon, and May Wright Sewall.^[11]

Stockholm, June 1911

This conference was led by Carrie Chapman Catt. During this conference eight men formed the Men's International Alliance for Women's Suffrage. These men came from Great Britain, the U.S., France, Germany, and Holland.^[12]

The Hague, April–May 1915

This congress, also known as the Women's Peace Congress or just The Hague Congress^[13] was part of the emergent women's peace movement. More than 1200 delegates from 12 countries discussed proposals to end the First World War through negotiation. Two participants, Jane Addams and Emily Greene Balch, would later receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Other attenders included Lida Gustava Heymann, one of 28 delegates from Germany; Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, Emily Hobhouse and Chrystal Macmillan from Great Britain; Rosika Schwimmer from Hungary; and Emilia Fogelklou.

The French government prevented the participation of a French delegation, and the planned 180-strong British delegation was severely reduced by the British government's suspension of the commercial ferry service between Folkestone and Flushing.^[13][14]

This event marked the foundation of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Somewhat confusingly, it is sometimes referred to as the First International Congress of Women.

Zurich, May 1919

^[15] This conference was held at the same time as the Peace Treaty of Versailles and hosted over 200 women coming in from 17 nations. One member commented that the German delegation was ‘scarred and shrivelled by hunger and privation, they were scarcely recognizable’.^[16] At this conference the women of the International Congress of Women regrouped to form a new organization, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.^[17]

Vienna, July 1921

This congress ended with a short resolution entitled "Revision of peace treaties":

Believing that the Peace Treaties contain the seeds of new wars, this Congress declares that a revision of the Peace Terms is necessary, and resolves to make this object its principal task.^[18]

References

External links

• “Women in Every Country” The First International Congress of Women’s Rights Paris, 1878