Women's International Democratic Federation
An international women's rights federation founded in 1945 to advance peace, anti-fascism, social justice, and the rights of women and children.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF) is an international women's rights organization established in Paris in November 1945 in the aftermath of the Second World War. It brought together women’s organizations and activists from different political and national backgrounds, especially those involved in anti-fascist resistance, socialist and labor movements, anti-colonial struggles, and campaigns for peace. Eugénie Cotton, a French scientist and anti-fascist activist, was elected its first president and remained in the position until her death in 1967. The federation was created around a broad postwar program. Its founding objectives included opposing fascism and racism, preventing war, defending public health and child welfare, expanding women’s political and economic rights, and encouraging international cooperation among women. Delegates adopted an International Charter of Women that addressed women’s status as citizens, mothers, and workers. The founding congress, held at Paris’s Palais de la Mutualité from 26 to 30 November 1945, brought together approximately 850 delegates from 40 countries representing 181 women’s organizations. WIDF became especially prominent during the Cold War. It was an explicitly internationalist and anti-racist organization, and it supported decolonization, national independence, peace campaigns, and the participation of working-class women in public life. Its approach differed from that of several older international women’s organizations that presented themselves as politically neutral. WIDF linked peace to social justice and the removal of exploitation, colonial domination, racism, and gender inequality. It worked directly with women’s organizations and activists rather than relying exclusively on government representatives, and it organized delegations, investigations, conferences, petitions, and public campaigns. The organization’s political orientation also made it controversial. U.S. government and intelligence assessments during the Cold War characterized WIDF as Communist-leaning and closely aligned with the Soviet bloc. French authorities banned it in 1951, after which its headquarters moved to East Berlin. Critics in Western women’s organizations feared that its appeals concerning motherhood, children, and women’s rights could be used to promote communist or anti-American political messaging. At the same time, WIDF’s supporters regarded these accusations as part of the broader Cold War effort to marginalize anti-colonial and socialist women’s movements. WIDF conducted fact-finding and solidarity work across Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Its delegations examined women’s access to health care, employment, food, land, education, and political participation, while also documenting the effects of colonial wars and economic exploitation. It supported the international observance of Children’s Day on 1 June, following a campaign launched in 1949, and its representatives contributed proposals within the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. WIDF’s participation in UN discussions helped shape the international decision to designate 1975 as International Women’s Year. The federation’s magazine, Women of the Whole World, circulated from 1946 to 1990 and was published in Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish. The publication helped connect affiliated organizations and publicize campaigns concerning peace, motherhood, children, anti-colonialism, and women’s equality. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, WIDF’s headquarters moved from Berlin to Paris. The organization later relocated to Brasília after Márcia Campos became president in 2002, and its secretariat was based in São Paulo from 2007. Since 2016, the federation has been led by Lorena Peña of El Salvador, with its world headquarters in San Salvador. Its historical identity remains closely associated with international women’s organizing, anti-fascism, peace activism, decolonization, and the defense of children’s and women’s rights.
History
WIDF emerged from networks of left-leaning, liberal, socialist, and communist women who had participated in anti-fascist resistance and wartime conferences. In 1945, Eugénie Cotton helped organize an international initiative to unite women around preventing another war, opposing fascism, defending children, and extending women’s rights. The founding congress took place in Paris from 26 to 30 November 1945. Its delegates represented 181 organizations from 40 countries and created a federation intended to be open to progressive women internationally. The new organization adopted an International Charter of Women and established a structure based on periodic congresses, an executive council with national representation, and a secretariat responsible for day-to-day administration. Its program connected women’s equality with peace, public health, child welfare, anti-racism, and social and economic justice. WIDF’s international membership included activists from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America. It deliberately sought relationships with working-class and anti-colonial women’s organizations rather than limiting its work to established elites. During its early years, WIDF conducted missions and collected information about women’s living conditions in Latin America and Asia. Its reports addressed poverty, land access, wages, health care, trafficking, displacement, and the effects of colonial warfare. The federation’s 1948 Asian and African research work emphasized the need to reach rural women and to analyze how imperialism and underdevelopment affected their lives. Some planned missions were obstructed when colonial authorities refused visas. WIDF’s worldview produced significant rivalry with older international women’s organizations, including the International Alliance of Women and the International Council of Women. While those bodies generally described themselves as nonpolitical, WIDF argued that women’s rights could not be separated from colonialism, class relations, racism, and militarism. WIDF treated peace not simply as the absence of armed conflict but as a condition based on social justice and freedom from exploitation. It therefore supported decolonization and national independence movements, and it campaigned against colonial wars and military policies. The Cold War intensified scrutiny of the federation. U.S. records described it as Communist-leaning and pro-Soviet, while Western critics argued that its women’s and child-welfare appeals could serve communist propaganda. French authorities banned WIDF in 1951, leading to the relocation of its headquarters to East Berlin. Despite these political controversies, the federation retained a broad international network and continued to advocate for women’s participation in public life, peace, children’s rights, and anti-racist and anti-colonial causes. WIDF maintained a relationship with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women at various times. Its representatives contributed proposals that were connected to the UN decision to designate 1975 as International Women’s Year. The organization also developed a multilingual communications platform through Women of the Whole World, published between 1946 and 1990 in six languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, WIDF moved its headquarters from Berlin to Paris in 1991. The office later relocated to Brasília in 2002 after Márcia Campos became president, and the secretariat was situated in São Paulo from 2007. Since 2016, the federation has been based in San Salvador and led by Lorena Peña. The organization’s contemporary institutional profile continues to reflect its historic emphasis on international solidarity, women’s rights, peace, children’s welfare, and social justice.
- 2016
Leadership and headquarters in El Salvador
[1]Lorena Peña became president and the federation's world headquarters moved to San Salvador.
- 2007
Secretariat based in São Paulo
[1]WIDF's secretariat was located in São Paulo.
- 2002
Office relocates to Brasília
[1]The federation moved its office to Brasília following the election of Márcia Campos as president.
- 1991
Headquarters move to Paris
[1]After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, WIDF transferred its headquarters from Berlin to Paris.
- 1975
Contribution to International Women's Year
[1]Proposals associated with WIDF participation in the UN Commission on the Status of Women contributed to the designation of 1975 as International Women's Year.
- 1951
Headquarters move to East Berlin
[1]The federation relocated after French authorities banned it during the Cold War.
- 1949
International Children's Day campaign
[1]WIDF promoted an annual 1 June observance dedicated to the protection of children.
- 1947
Consultative status at the United Nations
[1]WIDF received category B consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and its Commission on the Status of Women.
- 1945
Founding congress in Paris
[1]Delegates from 40 countries and 181 women's organizations established WIDF and elected Eugénie Cotton as president.
Products and positioning
An international, anti-fascist and anti-racist women's federation combining women's rights advocacy with peace activism, child welfare, social justice, and anti-colonial organizing.
Magazine · 1946
Women of the Whole World
WIDF's principal periodical, published from 1946 to 1990. It connected affiliated organizations and presented material on peace, women’s rights, children’s welfare, motherhood, anti-colonialism, and international solidarity. The magazine appeared in Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish.
Advocacy framework · 1945
International Charter of Women
A founding policy document setting out international principles for women’s rights and opportunities as citizens, mothers, and workers. It helped define the federation’s postwar program and linked equality with peace, social welfare, and democratic participation.
Marketing campaigns
- 1949International Children's Day campaign
International
WIDF organized a campaign for an annual day devoted to protecting children. The observance became associated with 1 June and was adopted in many countries.
Outcome. The campaign helped establish 1 June as an internationally observed Children's Day in numerous countries.
- 1948Asia and Africa women's conditions mission
British Burma · British Malaya · India
A WIDF delegation examined the position of women under colonial rule, including rural poverty, health care, wages, food security, trafficking, and the impact of war.
Outcome. The findings informed the report The Women of Asia and Africa and helped prepare a wider pan-Asian and African women's conference.
- 1946Latin American fact-finding mission
Argentina · Brazil · Chile · Uruguay
WIDF representatives visited Latin American countries to build relationships with women’s movements and investigate local social and economic conditions.
Outcome. The mission expanded WIDF's international networks and informed its advocacy on poverty, labor, health, and women's political participation.
Brand decisions
2016
Headquarters move to El SalvadorStrategyBackground
Lorena Peña assumed the presidency and the federation continued its Latin American institutional orientation.
Action taken
The world headquarters was established in San Salvador.
Aftermath
El Salvador became the federation's principal administrative base and the center of its current international work.
2002
Relocation to BrazilStrategyBackground
A new leadership phase began with Márcia Campos's election as president.
Action taken
WIDF relocated its office to Brasília.
Aftermath
The federation strengthened its institutional presence in Latin America before later placing its secretariat in São Paulo.
1991
Post-Soviet headquarters relocationStrategyBackground
The dissolution of the Soviet Union changed the political environment in which WIDF had operated for decades.
Action taken
The organization moved its headquarters from Berlin to Paris.
Aftermath
The move marked an institutional adjustment to the post-Cold War period.
1951
Relocation after French banStrategyBackground
French authorities prohibited WIDF during the early Cold War amid concerns about its alleged communist alignment.
Action taken
The federation moved its headquarters to East Berlin.
Aftermath
The relocation reinforced the organization's association with the Eastern bloc while allowing it to continue its international activities.
Recent events
- 2016
WIDF headquarters move to San Salvador[1]
Leadership change · Other
Under president Lorena Peña, the federation’s world headquarters became located in San Salvador, El Salvador.
- 2002
WIDF leadership relocates to Brasília[1]
Leadership change · Other
After Márcia Campos was elected president, the federation’s office moved from Paris to Brasília.
- 1951
French authorities ban WIDF[1]
Regulation
France prohibited the organization during the early Cold War, prompting the federation to move its headquarters to East Berlin.
- 1949
WIDF launches campaign associated with International Children's Day[1]
Campaign
The federation promoted an international day focused on protecting children, observed in many countries on 1 June.
- 1945
WIDF founded at postwar Paris congress[1]
Other
Delegates from 40 countries and 181 women's organizations established the federation and elected Eugénie Cotton as its first president.
Sources2 sources
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