Established in 1960, the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) is Canada’s oldest national feminist peace group. We are a non-partisan, non-profit membership-based organization with consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). VOW values and honours women in all of our diversities and provides women the opportunity to have their voices heard locally, nationally, and internationally on issues concerning peace.
Vision
We are a women’s organization using a feminist approach in building and leading cultures of peace.
Mission
We are a national women’s organization focused on building cultures of peace through education, advocacy and amplifying the voices of women.
Origins
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) was founded in 1960 as a feminist group committed to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Over the years, VOW has undertaken many initiatives in the pursuit of peace moving from an initial emphasis on nuclear disarmament to the abolition of war and the promotion of non- violent means of conflict resolution and social justice in a sustainable world.
VOW is one of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) cited by UNESCO’s standing committee in the working group report entitled “The Contribution of Women to the Culture of Peace”. An accredited NGO to the United Nations, affiliated to the Department of Public Information (DPI) and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), VOW was the Canadian lead group for peace at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Members have been active in follow-up activities, including writing the chapter, “Women and Peace” in Take Action for Equality, Development and Peace. We have been attending the Commission on the Status of Women for many years and were part of the international lobby which succeeded in the adoption in 2000 of the landmark Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. It reaffirms the important role of women in conflict prevention, management, conflict resolution and sustainable peace. Governments are obliged to implement this with plans of action. Only about 73 of 193 have. Canada is among them.
Annual Report
Read VOW’s Annual Report here
Or, watch the recording of our 2022 Annual General Meeting here
More Links: Watch our recording of the 2021 AGM here, see our 2020 AGM slideshow here, and read about our 2019 AGM here