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© 2004 American Public Health Association
VOICES FROM THE PAST |
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RATIFICATION OF THE GENEVA PROTOCOL
BELIEVING THE USE AND EVEN the preparation of chemical and biological weapons to be a crime against humanity, the XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, requests all Governments to ratify without reservation, if they have not already done so, the Geneva Protocol of the 17th June, 1925, on the prohibition of the use of poison gas and bacteriological warfare. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom makes an urgent appeal, moreover, to all the Governments to give a clear undertaking that they will no longer experiment on or manufacture such weapons.
REFUGEES
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, expresses its firm conviction that the refugee problem should continue to form a vital part of the work of International Headquarters and of the Section. Firstly: because the vastness of the accumulation of human misery and despair involved renders it one of the main barriers to the building of peace and endangers the social life of the whole world community. Roughly 60 million people are still uprooted and it is estimated that Korea will ultimately add another 10 million to the total. Secondly: because the basic need of the refugee is for a home, spiritual as well as material, and a job, and the fact that he is without either is a flagrant denial of Human Rights for which the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom should and does unceasingly work. The Women’s International league for Peace and Freedom feels very strongly that these Human Rights should be granted to everyone—without discrimination on political or any other grounds. . . .
AGAINST RACISM
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, states that, since its foundation in 1915 the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom has united women of many countries without discrimination of race. It has fully approved the formal condemnation by the United Nations of the crime of Genocide and has studied with satisfaction the work of UNESCO on the subject of race and its conclusive condemnation of racism. It welcomes every step taken, legal, social, educational and spiritual, to remove the disabilities resulting from race discrimination; but is distressed to see that racial discrimination is still practiced in numerous regions of the world. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom protests energetically against such practices which are unworthy of any civilized society, and is critical of Governments which not only do not repudiate the false theories that seek to justify such practices but even base their politics upon them. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom recalls to the States Members who have adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that it is their duty to ensure respect for the principles of the Declaration which imply absolute condemnation of all discrimination. . . .
INDO-CHINA
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, distressed by the heavy loss of life and money already suffered by France and Viet-Nam, refuses to consider as a satisfactory solution the replacement of French soldiers by those of the Viet-Nam army and the financial assistance given by the United States which prolongs the war; [and] strongly appeals to the Governments concerned to open negotiations for a "cease-fire" in Indo-China, and to arrange a Peace Conference giving the people of Indo-China the right to self-determination and safe-guarding the legitimate interests of the whole population.
THE UNITED NATIONS REPORT ON FORCED LABOUR
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, which has always strongly supported the principles of Human Rights, declares that the question of Forced Labour is pertinent to the discussion of the Covenants on Human Rights. The United Nations ad hoc Committee on Forced Labour has now released its Report on this question. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom urges the United Nations organs concerned to take energetic action on the basis of the Report.
STATIONING OF FOREIGN TROOPS
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, believing that the stationing of foreign troops in many countries, sometimes under conditions which amount to the granting of improper extra-territorial rights to the foreign powers concerned, and believing that this state of affairs aggravates the danger of war and increases international misunderstanding, expresses its earnest desire to see these troops withdrawn and all foreign occupation ended with the least possible delay. . . .
THE RIGHT TO READ
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, deeply concerned about renewed attacks on the Freedom to Read pledges itself to defend, wherever necessary, everyone’s right to think, to read and to judge. Free thought, free writing, [and] free reading are essential to the preservation of a free community and a creative culture. The suppression of dissident ideas and controversy must, of necessity, destroy intellectual and spiritual diversity, flexibility and elasticity—the most precious characteristics of a democratic society.
THE RIGHT TO EXPLOIT FREELY NATURAL WEALTH
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, notes with great interest the Resolution on the Right to Exploit Freely Natural Wealth and Resources adopted by the Seventh General Assembly of the United Nations on December 21, 1952. This Congress reminds Governments of the fact that the peoples of the world take the provisions of the Charter and the decisions of the United Nations literally and very seriously, and also attach to this Resolution the expectation that its principles of justice and sovereignty will soon be translated into concrete and practical action at a time, when the peoples on Continents called under-developed but in fact under-privileged, while striving very hard to achieve their political independence, find themselves largely handicapped in their struggle for economic self-determination and independence. In pleading for the rights of the peoples in question the XIIth Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom does not only plead for them and their own rights. The dangerous discrepancy now developing between their political emancipation on the one hand and their economic dependence on the other hand creates constant serious tension and must eventually lead to major conflict and war.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4–8th, 1953, in pursuance of the Appeal for the Abolition of Capital Punishment addressed by the International Chairmen of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom to the Governments of the World on January 10, 1953, urges WILPF National Sections and members to take the lead in creating in their respective countries public opinion strong enough to influence Parliaments and Governments to take the necessary steps for the Abolition of Capital Punishment. Capital Punishment violates the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and disgraces any community which permits itself the right of sending fellow citizens to death. This Congress regrets the limitations of the present provisions of Article 5 of the Draft Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning Capital Punishment, and urges that this Article be amended to read: "EVERYONE’S RIGHT TO LIFE SHALL BE PROTECTED BY LAW. THE DEATH PENALTY SHALL BE ABOLISHED."
THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD AND PROTECTED BY LAW (THE RIGHT OF PETITION)
The XII International Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom meeting in Paris, August 4-8th, 1953, deeply regrets that the provisions of Article 52 and of the Draft Covenant of Human Rights, as recommended by the recent Ninth Session of the Commission on Human Rights, restrict to States Parties the right to bring matters concerning the violation of Human Rights to the attention of another State and, after six months, to the "Committee" on Human Rights and urges the coming Eighth General Assembly of the Untied Nations to protect those whose rights are violated by providing a new article entitling the Human Rights "Committee" (to be set up) to receive and consider also Communications from individuals and from Non-Governmental Organizations and to initiate itself proceedings in cases serious enough to justify international action by the United Nations. While fully recognizing that the sovereignty of National Governments is a reality, this Congress, equally aware of the fact that recourse to national authorities may in many cases be exhausted or even impossible, holds that the discrepancy between the reality of national sovereignty on the one hand and the cruel reality of facts faced by the many legally unprotected, on the other hand, makes the right to petition from individuals and private organizations the more imperative. It is the most earnest desire of this Congress to see the confidence of the peoples of the world in the work of the United Nations restored by the explicit recognition through the General Assembly of the equal and inalienable right of ALL members of the human family to be heard, and protected by the rule of law—regardless of their nationality or residence.
Footnotes
Excerpted from the Resolutions passed by the 12th Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Paris, France, August 4–8, 1953. Full Text Is Available At: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/statements/1953.htm.
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