Page 5 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 124 - September 2024 - COMPLETED

years of working
94 towards
Social Justice

Every year when we have our candle-lighting ceremony, we read the history of how
BPW International was founded as the International Federation of Business and Profession-
al Women (IFBPW) in Geneva, Switzerland, on August 26, 1930, on the initiative of Dr. Le-
na Madesin Phillips, a lawyer. We are reminded that as President of the National Federation
of Business and Professional Women's Clubs of the United States of America, she organised

several "Goodwill Tours" to Europe in 1928 and 1929. Hundreds of American women par-
ticipated in these tours with the purpose of meeting business and professional women in Eu-
rope and promoting affiliation with them. Great Britain, or as it is known to us, BPW UK,
was one of the founding members of the International Federation along with Austria, Cana-

da, France, Italy and the United States of America. Dr Lena Madesin Phillips was elected as
the first IFBPW President and served until 1947.

Dr Phillips famously said, “You are now pioneers in the dream of peace and social
justice, of international understanding and goodwill. The dream will come to pass. It matters
little whether you or I live to see the day. It is only important that each of us struggle with-
out pause towards that day.”

Today the International Federation of Business and Professional Women as a non-
governmental organisation (NGO) has had Consultative Status with the United Nations

through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1947. At present there are a to-
tal of twenty-one members serving as representatives of IFBPW at the United Nations and
its subsidiary organs, specialised agencies and related organisations.

This year, on 26th of August, we are celebrating the 94th anniversary of IFBPW, one
of the most influential international networks of business and professional women. Many
Federations, affiliates and clubs will be celebrating and wearing yellow, our official colour.

This is an opportunity to affirm our mission to develop the business, professional and lead-
ership potential of women on all levels through advocacy, education, mentoring, networking
and skill building. We need to continue on this path as the dream is not yet a reality, despite
much progress having been made.

Lynne Robinson
VP International