12th Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance

The 12th Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance was an international women’s conference which took place in Istanbul, Turkey, in 18-25 April 1935. It was the 12th international conference arranged under the International Alliance of Women.

12th Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance
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The 12th Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance

The 12th Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance was held in Istanbul, Turkey, from April 18 to 25, 1935. This international women’s conference was the 12th event organized by the International Alliance of Women.

Conference Details

The conference took place under the chairmanship of Margery Corbett Ashby, the president of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. It was hosted by the Türk Kadinlar Birligi led by its president, Latife Bekir, who secured the necessary permission from the government. The venue for the conference was the Yildiz Kiosk, a former residence of the Ottoman sultan. Delegates were accommodated at the Hotel Tokatlian.

Key Themes of the Conference

The principal themes discussed during the conference included:

  • Political Rights: Advocating for full, free, and identical citizenship rights for women in all states, regardless of their government system.
  • Economic Rights: Emphasizing the recognition of women’s right to work and ensuring that married women can work without facing barriers. This included the need for equal access to education for professions and trades.
  • Moral Rights: Stipulating that both men and women should be held to the same high moral standards that reflect respect for human dignity, along with a call to suppress the trafficking of women.
  • Legal Rights: Asserting that women, whether married or single, must have full personal and civil rights, including property rights, free from male tutelage.
  • Peace and the League of Nations: Recognizing the necessity of women’s involvement in political life to promote peace and advocating for women from all nations to work towards friendly international relations.

Significant Outcomes

During the conference, the International Alliance of Women celebrated Turkey’s recent implementation of women’s suffrage. Following the conference, Latife Bekir announced the dissolution of the Türk Kadinlar Birligi, declaring that Turkey had achieved its objectives regarding women’s rights. Subsequently, the Turkish women’s movement was integrated into the ruling government party.

References

Boles, Janet K.; Hoeveler, Diane Long (2004). Historical Dictionary of Feminism. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-4946-1.