The International Alliance of Women ( IAW ; French : Alliance Internationale des Femmes , AIF ) is an international non-governmental organization that works to promote women's rights and gender equality . It was historically the main international organization that campaigned for women's suffrage . IAW stands for an inclusive, intersectional and progressive liberal feminism on the basis of human rights and liberal democracy , and has a liberal internationalist outlook. IAW's principles state that all genders are "born equally free [and are] equally entitled to the free exercise of their individual rights and liberty," that "women's rights are human rights" and that "human rights are universal, indivisible and interrelated."
48-734: Jus Suffragii was the official journal of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance , published monthly from 1906 to 1924. The International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA), now called the International Alliance of Women , was formed in 1904 in Germany, Berlin, by a group of prominent suffragists from many countries. The IWSA established Jus Suffragii , the official journal of the organisation, in 1906. Its title translates from Latin to "The Right of Suffrage". The journal published news about
96-560: A CSW forum on how the women's rights movement can counter "anti-trans voices [that] are becoming ever louder and [that] are threatening feminist solidarity across borders," where IAW's 16th President Marion Böker discussed her trans-inclusive position. IWRA has stated that "IWRA works for the rights of all women – feminism without trans women is no feminism at all (...) we have a lot of work to do to create an inclusive, vibrant and diverse feminist movement in Europe." IAW's Danish affiliate,
144-517: A gender-equal society on the basis of human rights. The principles of IAW affirm that everyone, regardless of gender, is "born equally free and independent" and equally entitled to "the free exercise of their individual rights and liberty." The principles affirm that "women’s rights are human rights" and that "human rights are universal, indivisible and interrelated." IAW stands in a liberal democratic tradition; in IAW's journal International Women's News , it
192-412: A modern and democratic society. The entire mainstream women's rights movement stands firmly against all forms of transphobia , homophobia , and racism , and these principles are part of the bedrock of the movement's values, and viewed as non-negotiable and essential in all efforts for equality. Speaking on trans inclusion, former IAW President Marion Böker said that for the women's rights movement, it
240-691: A top-down approach, where the elite were cast as the true agents of development." At the same time IAW claimed to speak on behalf of all women. In the late 1920s, the organization changed its name to the International Alliance of Women for Suffrage and Equal Citizenship, and in 1946 this was altered to its current name, International Alliance of Women. The first executive board included Carrie Chapman Catt (President), Anita Augspurg (1st Vice President), Donovan Bolden (2nd Vice President) and Rachel Foster Avery (Secretary). The organization's first President Carrie Chapman Catt also founded
288-733: Is a phrase that has been in use since the establishment of the United Nations and is used within the UN community to refer to "Non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ) in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council " (see list ). Also some international organizations could grant Consultative Status to NGOs (for example - Council of Europe ). Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) could grant Consultative Status in
336-944: Is aligned with other large mainstream feminist organizations such as the National Organization for Women or the League of Women Voters , itself founded by IAW's first President. 16 other women's rights organizations, which largely share a tradition with IAW – such as the American Association of University Women , National Women's Law Center , National Women's Political Caucus , and others – emphasized that "as organizations that fight every day for equal opportunities for all women and girls, we speak from experience and expertise when we say that nondiscrimination protections for transgender people—including women and girls who are transgender—are not at odds with women’s equality or well-being, but advance them." This sentiment
384-535: Is also in line with the "National Consensus Statement of Anti-Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Organizations in Support of Full and Equal Access for the Transgender Community" signed by 330 women's rights organizations, including those that share their core principles with IAW. The organization adopted gold (or yellow; Or in heraldry) as its color in 1904. The color, derived from the sunflower,
432-543: Is another focus of IAW and its affiliates, that has become more important since the postwar era. Violence against women and girls, both conflict-related violence and domestic violence , is also a significant focus of IAW and its affiliates, particularly in modern times. The IAW family belongs to the mainstream or liberal women's rights tradition and thus shares the mainstream feminist position on LGBT+ rights , which understands sexual and gender diversity as an essential aspect of women's human rights and gender equality in
480-473: Is in line with developments in international human rights law as they relate to women's human rights. In line with this, IAW affiliates such as Deutscher Frauenring advocate for trans-inclusive feminism and emphasize that far-right movements that undermine the human rights of minorities threaten democracy. In 2021 IAW and its affiliate, the Icelandic Women's Rights Association (IWRA), co-organized
528-430: Is indivisible from working for women’s rights and gender equality," that those who promote "the human rights of women and LGBTIQ+ people share the same goals of achieving safe and fair societies" and that condemned extremist hate movements such as " anti-gender " and " gender-critical " movements. The mainstream feminist movement's contemporary emphasis on an intersectional understanding of women's rights and gender equality
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#1732790971302576-483: Is necessary to work on the basis of human rights , which are universal and indivisible, defend democratic values, and fight for an inclusive women's movement, and warned against anti-democratic forces and forces on the far right that try to pit women's rights against the human rights of minorities, describing anti-trans activists as "right-wing and racist." Böker's remarks align with a statement from UN Women that emphasized that "working for LGBTIQ+ people’s human rights
624-531: Is the oldest symbol of women's rights. It had been adopted by American suffragists in 1867 and became the principal color of the American women's suffrage movement, typically used alongside white. Through the influence of the Alliance, gold and white became the principal colors of the mainstream international women's suffrage movement. Colors were important in the iconography of the suffrage movement. The use of
672-648: The Danish Women's Society , has said that it takes homophobia and transphobia very seriously, that "we support all initiatives that promote the rights of gay and transgender people" and that "we see the LGBTQA movement as close allies in the struggle against inequality, and we fight together for a society where gender and sexuality do not limit an individual." IAW's Norwegian affiliate, the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights , has warned against
720-573: The Institute for Global Communications network, and electronic mail - had played a major role. ] The rules for Consultative Status for international non-governmental organizations are appended to the resolution (93)38 "On relations between the Council of Europe and international non-governmental organisations", adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 18 October 1993 at
768-578: The League of Women Voters in the United States during her presidency. Since the onset of the Cold War the alliance's liberal internationalist outlook was strengthened. The alliance held firm anti-communist views and maintained a clear pro- Western stance throughout the Cold War. Its second President, Dame Margery Corbett Ashby , wrote that "it was us or the communist women who would organize
816-1316: The UN office in Geneva , the UN office in Vienna , UNESCO in Paris , the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg . It also has representatives to the Arab League in Cairo and the Gulf Countries Council in Riyadh , and is a member of the European Women's Lobby in Brussels . IAW's working languages are English and French. IAW understands sexual and gender diversity as an integral part of feminism. Speaking on trans inclusion, former IAW President Marion Böker said that for
864-455: The "enemy" countries. The journal was openly criticised by several suffragist leaders, including the president of the IWSA itself, for abandoning its original focus on women's voting rights and launching "an active pacifist campaign". By the end of the war in 1919, however, Sheepshanks and Jus Suffragii received messages of gratitude and praise from around the world. In 1917, the journal adopted
912-536: The 19th century, and remains one of the core issues of IAW and its affiliates. In line with IAW's increased focus on developing countries from the mid-20th century, girls' and women's education in developing countries has become an increasingly important topic. Legal and economic gender equality have been core issues of the liberal women's rights movement since the 19th century. For example, IAW works to strengthen women's land and property rights, especially in developing countries. Sexual and reproductive health and rights
960-604: The 500th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies. The criteria for NGO accreditation to Consultative Status have been revised several times, most recently in 1996 in ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, following an extensive United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on the Review of Arrangements for Consultation with Non-Government Organizations. A significant section of 1996/31 was the following paragraph: In 1948, shortly after
1008-528: The Commission on Social Development in 1998. The three sub-categories of Roster Status - see below - have been supplemented by a fourth category, the definition of whose rights remains somewhat vague, namely "NGOs accredited to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)": The primary form of Roster Status, for NGOs with a focus on one or two of the areas of competence of ECOSOC. There are special provisions in 1996/31, and before that in 1296 (XLIV) for
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#17327909713021056-769: The ECOSOC must first submit an application online at the NGO Branch of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN Secretariat. After the application is screened by the NGO Branch, it will be reviewed by the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs . The Committee decides to recommend, or not recommend, granting status to the NGO. The final decision is taken by the ECOSOC at its annual Substantive session. Although
1104-717: The International Woman Suffrage Alliance, is historically the most important international organization within the bourgeois-liberal women's rights movement . The decision for the establishment of the organization was taken in Washington in 1902 by suffragists frustrated at the reluctance of the International Council of Women to support women's suffrage. As such the Alliance was a more progressive organization that emphasized legal and political equality between women and men from
1152-648: The Near East." In the alliance's journal International Women's News it was stated in 1946 that the support of the United Nations and democracy must "remain in the forefront of our programme." Its third President Hanna Rydh worked actively to build cooperation in developing countries, partially to counteract communism. IAW's members in the Nordic countries were also members of the Joint Organization of Nordic Women's Rights Associations . IAW works for
1200-614: The UN Secretary-General to recommend NGOs for the Roster. The Agency Roster refers to accreditation to the Roster of United Nations specialized agencies such - e.g. UNICEF , UNESCO , ILO , ITU , etc. Although not defined in 1996/31, a fourth category of NGOs accredited to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was established by ECOSOC decision 1996/302. There are currently approximately 400 NGOs in this status. An NGO that wishes to obtain consultative status with
1248-775: The UN headquarters, Soon-Young Yoon , is also chair of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York . The IAW pays particular attention to the universal ratification and implementation without reservation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women ( CEDAW ) and its Optional Protocol. The current IAW Commissions deal with the topics: Justice and Human Rights; Democracy; Peace; Elimination of Violence and Health. General consultative status The consultative status
1296-597: The United Kingdom, 4 marks in Germany, or 4 francs in France. During World War I , Jus Suffragii was edited by Mary Sheepshanks , whose pacifist and feminist direction of the journal caused significant controversy. This began in 1914 when, after war broke out, Jus Suffragii shared its London offices with the International Women's Relief Committee, which had just been formed to provide aid to
1344-418: The United States since 1867 and the oldest symbol of women's rights; through the Alliance's influence gold and white became the principal colors of the mainstream international women's suffrage movement. The basic principle of IAW is that the full and equal enjoyment of human rights is due to all women and girls. It is one of the oldest, largest and most influential organizations in its field. The organization
1392-512: The anti-gender movement, expressed solidarity with the LGBT+ rights struggle and supported legal protections against discrimination and hate speech on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The Icelandic Women's Rights Association has published a report on improving the situation of non-binary people in Iceland. The IAW family's inclusive and intersectional position
1440-460: The color gold began with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony’s campaign in Kansas in 1867 and derived from the color of the sunflower, the Kansas state symbol. Suffragists used gold pins, ribbons, sashes, and yellow roses to symbolize their cause. In 1876, during the U.S. Centennial, women wore yellow ribbons and sang the song "The Yellow Ribbon." In 1916, suffragists staged "The Golden Lane" at
1488-426: The criteria and rights associated with Consultative Status for almost forty years, during which time there was a substantial growth in the number of NGOs. The primary impetus for the 1996 revision of the arrangements was the unprecedented level of NGO participation, especially from national NGOs, in the preparations for UNCED - the 1992 Earth Summit . The use of ICT - mostly in the form of electronic conferences on
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1536-541: The equivalent of Category I, Category II, and Roster status that were defined in 1296 (XLIV). Below are the current definitions - paragraph numbers are from 1996/31 . 1996/31 grants different rights for participation in ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies - principally ECOSOC's Functional Commissions - including rights to United Nations passes, to speak at designated meetings, and to have documents translated and circulated as official UN document; e.g. Information Technology, Public Participation, and Global Agreements submitted to
1584-705: The form of "Researcher-in-residence programme" (run by the Prague Office of the OSCE Secretariat): accredited representatives of national and international NGOs are granted access to all records and to numerous topical compilations related to OSCE field activities. Consultative Status has its foundation in Article 71 of Chapter 10 of the United Nations Charter: ECOSOC Resolution 1296 (XLIV) in 1968 had defined
1632-540: The founding of the United Nations, there were 45 NGOs in Consultative Status, mostly large international organizations. Currently there are 3900 NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and some 400 NGOs accredited to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). There are three classes of Consultative Status defined by 1996/31, General, Special, and Roster. These classes were
1680-861: The home country of a member organization, and elects the executive board. The current President and Chief Representative to the United Nations is Alison Brown. The executive board also includes the Secretary-General, the Treasurer and until 20 other members, including two Executive Vice Presidents as well as Vice Presidents for Europe, the Arab countries, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf , Africa, and Regional Coordinators for North America, Pacific, and South East Asia. The IAW represents about 45 organizations world-wide as well as individual members. The IAW
1728-511: The hundreds of "enemy" German women who had become stranded in Britain. Sheepshanks apologised in the journal's pages to German and Austrian readers for the lack of news from those countries in what should have been an international journal and appealed to readers in neutral countries where the journal was distributed—Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands—to obtain news about women in
1776-449: The importance and value of women`'s contributions as equal partners. The perequisite for securing women's rights is the universal ratification and implementation without reservation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Today it represents over 50 organizations world-wide comprising several hundred thousand members, and has its seat in Geneva .It also accepts individual members. From 1926,
1824-423: The name The International Woman Suffrage News in addition to its original title. Sheepshanks stepped down as editor in 1920 and the journal ceased publication in 1924, when it was replaced by International Women's News as the IWSA's official periodical. International Alliance of Women In 1904 the Alliance adopted gold (or yellow) as its color, the color associated with the women's suffrage movement in
1872-416: The national Democratic convention; to reach the convention hall, all delegates had to walk through a line of women stretching several blocks long, dressed in white with gold sashes, carrying yellow umbrellas, and accompanied by hundreds of yards of draped gold bunting. Gold also signified enlightenment, the professed goal of the mainstream U.S. suffrage movement. An International Congress is held triennially in
1920-942: The onset. The Alliance was formally constituted during the Second conference in Berlin in 1904 as the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA), and was headquartered in London for much of its history. Its founders included Carrie Chapman Catt , Millicent Fawcett , Helene Lange , Susan B. Anthony , Anita Augspurg , Rachel Foster Avery , and Käthe Schirmacher . Amongst subsequent congresses were those held in Copenhagen (1906), Amsterdam (1908), London (1909), Stockholm (June 1911), and Budapest (1913). The French Union for Women's Suffrage (UFSF), founded in February 1909,
1968-470: The organization had strong ties to the League of Nations . Since 1947, IAW has had general consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council , the highest UN status possible for a non-governmental organization, the fourth organization to be granted this status . IAW also has participatory status with the Council of Europe . It has representatives at the UN headquarters in New York ,
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2016-672: The organization was one of the three major international "bourgeois" women's organizations, alongside the International Council of Women (ICW) and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Of these, IWSA (IAW) was more progressive and oriented towards legal equality and equal citizenship than ICW. At the same time, IWSA was more conservative than WILPF. The organization's members were often associated with liberal parties and movements, but some were also progressive conservatives or liberal conservatives. Most IAW members held "similar views of society and societal change, which assumed
2064-535: The progress of the women's suffrage around the world, in addition to news about various other women's issues, including women leaders, women working in male-dominated fields, women's and children's health, marriage and divorce law, prostitution, women's education, maternity benefits, working conditions and the age of consent. It was published in English in London , and in French in Geneva . Each issue cost 4 pence in
2112-586: The women's rights movement, it is necessary to work on the basis of human rights, which are universal and indivisible, defend democratic values, and fight for an inclusive women's movement, describing anti-trans activists as "right-wing and racist." In 2021 IAW and its Icelandic affiliate co-hosted a forum on the importance of solidarity between the feminist movement and the trans movement, and expressed concern over "anti-trans voices [that] are becoming ever louder and [that] are threatening feminist solidarity across borders." The International Alliance of Women, formerly
2160-681: Was formally recognized by the IWFA congress in London in April 1909 as representing the French suffrage movement. IWSA also started its own monthly journal, the Jus Suffragii . IWSA, influenced by moderate liberal feminist Millicent Fawcett against the militancy of suffragettes in the style of Emmeline Pankhurst , refused membership to the WSPU at their 1906 Copenhagen meeting. In the interwar period,
2208-422: Was founded as the International Woman Suffrage Alliance ( IWSA ) in 1904 in Berlin , Germany, by Carrie Chapman Catt , Millicent Fawcett , Susan B. Anthony and other leading feminists from around the world to campaign for women's suffrage . IWSA was headquartered in London , and it was the preeminent international women's suffrage organization. Its emphasis has since shifted to a broad human rights focus and
2256-575: Was granted general consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council , the highest level possible, in 1947, and has participatory status with the Council of Europe . The IAW has permanent representatives in New York , Vienna , Geneva , Paris , Rome , Nairobi and Strasbourg and addresses the European Union through its membership in the European Women's Lobby in Brussels . The IAW's current representative to
2304-425: Was stated in 1946 that support for democracy must "remain in the forefront of our programme." Former IAW President Marion Böker emphasized in 2023 that it is important to defend democratic values. IAW was founded to advocate for women's suffrage and political equality remains one of its traditional core issues. Girls' and women's education has been an important focus of the liberal women's rights movement since
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