This Year’s CSW Forum Panels Are Virtual; Attend Our March 18 Panel on the International Peace Train

In 1995, WILPF sponsored a “Peace Train” that brought 230 women and 10 men from 42 countries to the Fourth UN Conference on Women in Beijing. During the three-week trek from Helsinki, Finland, to Beijing the activists met with women’s groups and political leaders. Credit: WILPF archive. (Prizes for any WILPFer who identifies herself in this photo, taken in Helsinki Railway Station as they sing waiting to board the train, to Info@wilpfus.org.)

By Cherrill Spencer, Robin Lloyd, and Darien De Lu

March 2021

Women’s History Month and the UN Commission on the Status of Women collide beautifully in the month of March.

WILPF International and WILPF US have a long-standing relationship with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The NGO (non-governmental organization) CSW/NY organizes the civil society side of the CSW annual meeting. Its Forum will be virtual this year and is free to attend. So we should all consider registering even if it is just to attend the panel sponsored by the Women’s UN Report Network (WUNRN) and WILPF US and organized by WILPF US activists Lois Herman (also active in WUNRN), Robin Lloyd, and Darien De Lu.

There will be about 500 excellent virtual events happening during the NGO Forum portion of CSW65 between March 15-26, 2021, on the theme Women in Public Life - Equal Participation in Decision-making. You can register here and check “advocate” when that box comes up. You are not obliged to donate, but you must be registered to be able to participate in any of the CSW events.

WILPF US Panel and Video on the 1995 WILPF Peace Train

Our panel presentation takes place on Thursday, March 18, at 11:30 am PST/2:30 pm EST. It is about the WILPF International Peace Train (from Helsinki to Beijing), an amazing initiative 26 years ago. The special Peace Train to the Beijing 4th World Conference for Women in 1995 was a landmark experience for 230 women and 10 men, who came from 42 countries and who crossed two continents to reach the Beijing Conference.

Photo: A friendly Finn plays her guitar in Helsinki railway station to wish bon voyage to the WILPFers on the WILPF International Peace Train. Opening scene from the documentary by Robin Lloyd, used with her permission.

The Peace Train was organized by WILPF International. At the many train stops along the way to Beijing, the women on the train met with women’s and civil society groups, and political leaders. Excerpts from the Peace Train documentary film produced by Robin Lloyd will be shown at the CSW 65 NGO Forum event, to provide a multigenerational and international audience the memories of the Women's Beijing Peace Train, and its legendary experiences.

The train journey, over a period of about 21 days included – on the train – the Rolling School, where WILPFers put the hours of travel to good use! WILPF US member and former WILPF International Vice-President, Regina Birchem, helped organize the Rolling School. The experiences on the train and at the programs in cities along the way influenced riders’ participation at the 1995 UN Women’s Conference.

Inspired by the Women’s Beijing Peace Train, subsequently WILPF activists in the US organized multiple regional Peace Trains, and in Africa WILPF activists organized the Africa Women’s Peace Train.