ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the early history of the Women's International League of Peace and Freedom (WILPF), from its genesis in the 1915 meeting of women at The Hague, through the early years of the League of Nations. In the decades that followed, WILPF would emerge as one of the most cogent non-communist critics of the colonial system. The group would also gain a reputation as one of the most socially radical international organizations outside the communist sphere. Much of their discourse in the interwar period foreshadowed the post-World War II focus on positive human rights in its emphasis on the importance of economic and social as well as physical security in guarding against future wars. The numerous League-oriented groups that grew up in the interwar period with the aim of educating public opinion and influencing foreign policy were comparatively open to female participation. WILPF women saw their participation in these organizations as complementing, not challenging, their work with the WILPF.
