The 19th Triennial Congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, 17-20 July, 1974 in Birmingham, England:
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, meeting in its 19th Triennial Congress at Birmingham, 17-20 July 1974.
Is alarmed at increasing worldwide violence, racism, arms build-up and economic materials, which have not been contained in spite of our best efforts . This unhealthy condition of society is a threat to peace and freedom.
More than half a century of study and action on our part has led us to the conclusion that we have been dealing with the symptoms rather than the disease.
We have come to see the malady as inherent in an economic system based on production for private profit rather than production for human needs.
We have come to see that production for profit rather than for human welfare makes it impossible to achieve the goals of WILPF. We therefore believe that we shall not eliminate war, racism, violence, repression and social injustice unless we address ourselves to achieving fundamental economic change by non-violent means.