The Women Who Tried to Stop the Great War: The International Congress of Women at The Hague 1915

The Congress of Women developed a roadmap for enduring peace. The women passed 20 resolutions including five resolutions which were “Principles of a Permanent Peace.” Theirs was a gendered response to a gendered war. The Congress was a bold and brave initiative. The war was not halted. But neither were the women in their quest for peace. This is their story.The International Congress of Women was the major peace initiative of its day. The stakes were high, the odds were low. During the blood-letting of World War 1 (1914-1918), over a thousand women joined together to stop the war. The women came from neutral countries, from belligerent countries of both the Entente and the Central Powers, and from invaded Belgium. These women put their differences - and safety - aside and assembled at The Hague in 1915 (28 April to 1 May)