Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF)

Anti-nuclear flier produced by the WIDF, March 8th, 1959

The Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF) was founded in Paris in 1945 at the International Congress of Women by Eugenie Cotton and Marie-Claude Vaillant-Courturier. It was organized around four major concerns; anti-fascism, international peace, child welfare, and the status of women. In a 1958 interview Eugenie Cotton stated, "It was Fascism that caused the 1939-1945 war and because of this the founders of WIDF stressed their determination to work for the strengthening of democracy in the world.... When they demand peace, women think first and foremost of safeguarding the lives of their children." [Women of the Whole World, April 1958, "Madame Cotton Tells Us"]. Although the WIDF was not a Communist group, there were Communists active in the organization. As a result the American press labeled it as "Communist dominated."

...