Cold war history

In 1955, the year of WILPF’s 40th Anniversary, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit High Commissioner for India was received at the Annual Council. Phoebe Cusden called for an international conference of women on disarmament. The following year a Section luncheon honoured UK WILPF President, the distinguished crystallographer Professor Kathleen Lonsdale, on being appointed a Dame. The 13th International Congress was held in Birmingham in 1956

The 1960’s saw the UK Section joining  the Liaison Committee for Women’s Peace Groups, a Committee set up to bring together the older peace organisations with the post-war groups. In 1969 WILPF held a conference in London on chemical and biological warfare.

In the 1970’s The International Congress returned to Birmingham in 1973 and the UN declaration of 1975 as International Women’s Year coincided with WILPF’s 60th Anniversary.