In Memoriam: Edith Ballantyne

IN MEMORIAM: EDITH BALLANTYNE
10 December 1922 – 25 March 2025
President of CoNGO 1976-1982

Many members of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) will have learned with deep sadness of the passing of our most highly esteemed and admired former President, Edith Ballantyne, at the age of 102.

Edith was a guiding light throughout her lengthy history of unwavering activism and advocacy for countless causes. Her work with CoNGO is just one of many organizations that have benefited from her enduring contributions.

At the 2021 CoNGO General Assembly, we had the immense pleasure of airing an interview with Edith, conducted that same month as she approached her 99th birthday. Anyone who watched that interview could not forget her vivacity, energy, grasp of global political, social, and humanitarian affairs, and her ability to articulate profound thoughts with such alacrity that the CoNGO interviewers were virtually left behind!

In CoNGO, Edith represented the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), first as its Secretary General and later as its President. Edith was a dedicated, lifelong, and passionate advocate for women’s rights and all human rights. She exposed and fought against racism and social injustice; indeed, she opposed all forms of injustice and inequality.

Her tenure as President of CoNGO occurred during the Cold War, a period when the international NGO community was profoundly divided. Edith’s politics were not to everyone’s taste. Nevertheless, she consistently prioritized her role as a representative of CoNGO, recognizing that the strength of NGOs lies in focusing on shared values and collectively overcoming philosophical barriers.

Throughout her post-CoNGO presidential years, Edith remained accessible to her successors, offering compassionate and relevant advice and support. Her health declined only in her final couple of years, with her four children lovingly by her side. To them, and to all those whose cooperation and support accompanied her over these decades, CoNGO expresses its deep sympathy and heartfelt gratitude.

Edith will be remembered for the profound impact she had on the lives of the people and causes she advocated for, as well as for all those who had the privilege of collaborating with her. Her lifelong commitment and unwavering dedication to illuminating the lives of those in need epitomized her kind and generous nature.

People with the patience, perseverance, and determination that Edith Ballantyne manifested in her diverse roles promoting civil society initiatives are rare. We cherish and hold dear our collective and personal memories of the passion and action that defined her life. She undoubtedly left her mark on CoNGO, and we honor her numerous contributions to a better and more just future for all humanity and the planet.

Thank you, Edith!

Liberato C. Bautista, President of CoNGO
April 2025