Women in Black (WiB) say nothing, do nothing yet they terrify world leaders. Like Fountain there is no membership, no manifesto, no politics or complete record of how many groups exist, but in June 2001 WiB was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, earlier in March 2001 the Belgrade Branch of former Yugoslavia had been given the Millennium Peace Prize for Women from the United Nations Development fund for Women.

WiB started one day in January 1988, 15 Israeli women dressed in black stood silently on a busy road in Jerusalem carrying placards calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. They were spat on, shouted at and accused of 'mourning the enemy'. Undeterred the women gathered every Friday from then on.

Word spread of their powerful impact and similar groups started in other Israeli cities. Palestinian women came and stood by their side, adding their impact to the silent protest. In a short time there were 40 WiB groups in Israel and the movement had become unstoppable. The idea was taken back to Italy by visitors to Israel where it spread to Yugoslavia and by 1989 there were groups in America and Canada.

In 1991 WiB started in London, standing regularly under the statue of Edith Cavell which carries her words 'Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone.' To start with the focus was on the situation in Palestine, but it soon spread to protest about the Serbian regime, the Gulf war and more recently the terrorist attacks on 11 September and the following Afghan war and refugee crisis.

Today groups exist all over the world, ordinary women, housewives, students, office workers, cleaners, bankers, mothers, grandmothers, all wanting peace and a better world. Once a week for 1 hour they stand eerily motionless, robed in black, silently, peacefully fighting a war. Placards hung round their necks state the focus of their vigil for that week, reminding passers-by that while they go about their everyday business, innocent people, mainly women and children are being tortured, maimed and killed all around the world.

Their numbers are growing so fast that politicians are being forced to take notice, they have the right attitude and the power to change things, according to one of the MPs who backed the Nobel nomination. If you would like further information write to WiB c/o The Maypole Fund, PO Box 14072, London N16 5WB enclosing a SAE or visit the website at www.wib.matriz.net

Joy Byner