Edith Ballantyne, born on 10 December 1922, died quietly on 25th March in Geneva. She lived a life focused on building a world of peace, justice, inclusivity and respect for all. She cherished her family and a broad circle of friends and comrades who shared, and were inspired by, her vision. We will miss chatting and debating with Edith; her ideas will continue to shape our world view.
Early in life, thanks to her family’s political views, Edith became aware of structural, gender and political injustices in the then Sudetenland. In 1938, the teenage Edith, together with her family, fled their home in Bohemia and the rising tide of Nazism. They subsequently became refugees in a remote rural area of Alberta, Canada, where life was difficult for German speaking immigrants. A short while later, Edith relocated to the east coast where she met Cam Ballantyne. After getting married in 1948, they moved to Geneva where Cam worked at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the rest, as they say, is history.
After many years of activism and strengthening networks with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Edith led the organization as Secretary General (1969 to 1992). She was its International President from 1992 – 1998. Edith continued her activism, and supporting others to do so, until she was admitted to hospital last week. Despite diminishing eyesight, she never gave up. She was alert and raging against the machinery of injustice until the very end.
Do not go gentle into the good night
Old age should burn and rave at close of day
Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Dylan Thomas
See Peacemakers: A conversation with Edith Ballantyne, WILPF
At a time when lawlessness, greed, inequality and contempt for the fundamentals of a humane and equitable global order are on the rise, Edith’s life’s work and vision are an inspiration to everyone concerned about this era of growing inhumanity and its ramifications for peace and justice everywhere.
See UAI’s 2021 International Women’s Day interview on women and peace
Contributed by Norah Niland, Antonio Donini, Geneva 28th March 2025
With many thanks from UAI to ©Ahlam Almulaiki @cnvschq for the illustration of Edith Ballantyne.
