WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21537, 8 January 1932, Page 11

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE Eleven important international organisations of women have already united in the formation of a committee for the purpose of promoting the success of the World Disarmament Conference to be held in February this year. This committee has its headquarters at Geneva, and its aim is to stimulate and to concentrate the work for disarmament which women arc carrying on throughout the world with such earnestness and zeal. The committee thus represents many millions of women of all nations for whom the question of disarmament is one of the most important the world has ever had to consider. At its first meeting in September, 1931. the committee passed the following resolution, which was sent to the delegates of the League Assembly;— “ The great international organisations of women assembled at a meeting of their special committee for united action in support of disarmament, beg to express their whole-hearted support of the forthcoming Disarmament Conference and their earnest desire for its success. They pledge themselves, by every means in their power, to help in organising the vast and growing public opinion in favour ot the conference and of the realisation of the world-wide cry for disarmament and security.” Women demand disarmament, and, as a first step, they ask for an effective reduction of armaments. At the same time they are convinced that the first arms to lay down are hatred and suspicion. It is with inner moral disarmament that one has to begin. Women are specially qualified for this task, and it can be their greatest contribution to the work of disarmament. A great impetus to the effort of women was given by the Spanish resolution adopted by the assembly on September 24, 1931, requesting “the council to examine the possibility of increasing the collaboration of women in the work of the League of Nations. _ • This has a special bearing on the Disarmament Conference to be held in February. The Disarmament Committee of the Women’s International Organisations functioning in Geneva close to the League s Secretariat has an immense task in informing its member organisations how women may best co-operate in making the Disarmament Conference a success. Here is a great-call to strenuous effort. Disarmament is required not only to prevent actual war, but to direct enormous, non-productive, destructive expenditures into productive, constructive channels. Let us not only rid ourselves of war, but preparations for war. Sign disarmament petitions; join an organisation which keeps you informed of what you can do; read the newspapers; attend meetings; study the difficult issues; realise that you are a citizen 4nd let your government know how you feel; and send a contribution, however small, to the Disarmament Committee of the Women’s International Organisations to help carry on its work effectively.