[International Women’s Day] Bertha von Suttner: A beacon for women in international law and peace activism

In honour of International Women’s Day, the Asser Institute will host a panel discussion, reflecting on Bertha Von Suttner’s (9 juni 1843 - Wenen, 21 juni 1914) invaluable contributions and examining how her principles continue to influence the work of legal professionals and peacebuilders today. As a pioneering figure in the peace movement and the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, von Suttner’s legacy resonates powerfully with the Asser Institute’s celebration for 60th year and mission of advancing international law. 
More than a century ago, Bertha von Suttner made history as the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The Peace Palace’s ‘spiritual mother’, and bestselling author of the world famousanti-war novel “Die Waffen Nieder” (Lay Down Your Arms), fought tirelessly for peace, challenging male-dominated power structures that justified war. But today, the struggle for gender equality in international law and peacebuilding is far from over. 
On 6 March, the Asser Institute will honour von Suttner’s legacy with a special International Women’s Day event, bringing together female judges, legal scholars, and activists for a night of reflection. The evening will begin with a keynote by artist Ingrid Rollema, well-known for the statute of Von Suttner that she made for the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Rollema, who travelled all over Europe to retrace Von Suttners’ footsteps, will kick-off the evening with a story about Von Suttner’s “juicy life” (dixit Rollema) and how her impactful legacy can inspire and empower women working in, or interested in, international law. 
Following this, a panel discussion featuring Dr. Janne Nijman (UvA, Geneva Graduate Institute), and Priya Pillai, lawyer and international law specialist,will delve into critical questions: How far have we come in achieving gender equality in international law? What challenges remain? What role do women play in shaping global justice?  
Moderated by Gabrielė Chlevickaitė (Asser Institute), the discussion will be followed by a Q&A session, allowing you to engage with the speakers and share their perspectives. 
With pressing geopolitical conflicts and growing threats to international legal norms, this discussion is a timely reminder that gender equality is not just a matter of rights—it is essential for achieving lasting peace.Honouring peace activist Von Suttner would offer some vital balance and celebrate the crucial contributions of women to international law. 
As the Asser Institute’s former academic director Janne Nijman once put it: 
“We need to know and teach about women who dared to swim against the tide. Bertha Von Suttner did exactly so. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, so she is an important historical example.” 

Date: 6 March 2025 
Venue: Asser Institute 

Preliminary programme 
18.30 
Registrations open
19.30
Opening speech
19.40
Keynote speech by Ingrid Rollema – About Bertha’s ‘juicy’ life  
20.00
Women in International Law: Shaping Peace, Justice and the Path for Future Generations 
A panel discussion by female judges and scholars featuring Janne Nijman, Priya Pillai.
20.30
End
Moderation: Gabrielė Chlevickaitė 

About Bertha von Suttner
Bertha von Suttner was an advocate and writer who used her voice to shape the global pacifism movement. Her novel Lay Down Your Arms was groundbreaking, not just for its anti-war message but for how it humanised the horrors of war, making it accessible to a broad audience. She believed that ‘war was an institution handed down to us by the barbarians and to be removed by civilisation.' According to her, the world was simply not organised for states to solve their problems non-violently. Therefore, her idea of peace was to be achieved by law. 
As vice-president of the International Peace Bureau, she played a crucial role in fostering international cooperation and promoting peaceful conflict resolution. She actively participated in the First Hague Peace Conferences in 1899 and 1907, where world leaders and diplomats gathered to discuss disarmament and international arbitration. Her influence reached Alfred Nobel, contributing to his decision to establish the Nobel Peace Prize. Though she did not live to see the First World War, her work laid the foundation for future peace efforts, inspiring generations of activists. 

Read more 

[Publication] Janne E. Nijman: ‘Bertha von Suttner: Locating international law in novel and salon’ 
Bertha von Suttner, the best-selling author of the anti-war novel Die Waffen Nieder! (Lay Down Your Arms!) stood at the foundations of The Hague’s international legal institutions and was the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Janne E. Nijman explores the diaries, articles and a novel to portray this unorthodox international thinker in her upcoming article ‘Bertha von Suttner: Locating international law in novel and salon’.Read more. 

Videos: 
Bertha von Suttner: A Royal Peacebuilder
Although born a countess, Bertha von Suttner was rejected by Austrian high society—but that didn’t stop her from changing the world.This video offers a glimpse into her life—from working as a tutor to befriending Alfred Nobel, inspiring him to establish the Nobel Peace Prize, and ultimately becoming the first woman to receive it. 

HiStories-Bertha von Suttner, A women ahead of her time 
Held on 26 January 2021, the discussion explores Bertha von Suttner’s impact on the development of the first multilateral institutions, her unconventional life and remarkable efforts to promote international peace as a writer and thinker, and new analyses that reassess her political ideas.

Ingrid & Bertha 
This video offers an exclusive look at the creation of Bertha von Suttner’s statue, sculpted by our keynote speaker, Ingrid Rollema on behalf of the Carnegie Foundation. Discover the artistic process and inspiration behind this powerful tribute to peace and justice.