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International Council of Women

Website: http://www.icw-cif.com

Category: Women's

Year of Foundation: 1888

Location of Foundation: Washington, DC, USA

Location of Headquarters: Paris, France

Brief Description: The International Council of Women unites 'national councils of women worldwide in global action for international peace and justice, capacity building for women as decisionmakers, and women's human rights and rights for all people.' (Source: www.icw-cif.com; accessed 24 November 2009)

Founding Rationales:

The opening sentence of the organization's constitution stated: 'We, women of all nations, sincerely believing that the best good of humanity will be advanced by greater unity of thought, sympathy, and purpose, and that an organized movement of women will best conserve the highest good of the family and the state, do hereby band ourselves together in a confederation of women committed to the overthrow of all forms of ignorance and injustice, and to the application of the Golden Rule to society, custom, and law.'

Article I of the constitution stated that the organization's objects were 'to provide a means of communication between women's organizations in all countries' and 'to provide opportunities for women to meet together from all parts of the world to confer upon questions relating to the welfare of the commonwealth and the family.'

Source: 'Report of the International Council of Women assembled by the National Woman Suffrage Association, Washington, DC, United States of America, March 25 to April 1, 1888.'

Evolution of Membership:

International Council of Women Membership Chart

Sources: AVI; HIO; YIO