Peace Petition, April 1920

At the International [Congress of Women] in Zurich in the spring of 1919, the women of all countries present swore an oath never again to support future wars by providing [any] kind of assistance. The global international women’s strike in the event of war was decided unanimously. This strike, however, [must] be prepared well in advance in all countries so that in the hour of danger there will be a united power which will [disgrace] the will of war-loving violent people. It is up to us women and mothers who have gone through the unspeakable suffering and horror of the World War to nip future wars in the bud. War and peace are in our hands if we are united. Without our will, without our willingness to fill all the gaps at home, to maintain trade, traffic and industry, the cannons on the battlefields will not be able to carry out their work of death for an hour. Therefore, you wives and mothers of all countries unite yourselves to the global pledge with your signature and keep it faithfully if the danger of the time should make it necessary.

In recognition of the immense responsibility for the fate of millions and millions of people, which each and every one of us bears, we women and mothers declare with our signature that sanctity and inviolability of life is our supreme principle, that we thereby condemn all organized killing as inhumane and will never again in the future – be it through money, propaganda or work – promote war, nor civil war.