In 19th century, the condition of subordinate women in America triggered them to fight for their equality. This movement has expanded to become an international movement along with the development of transportation and telecommunications in America-Europe. Starting from this, the Women International Non-Governmental Organization (WINGO) was formed as an association of the international women's movement. The International Council of Women (ICW) is the first WINGO in the world formed in 1888, Washington D.C. Throughout its history, ICW has worked for women`s equality in the international scope through League of Nations and the United Nations. One of them was in the making of the first women's international conference, which is International Women`s Year (IWY) Conference 1975 with `Equality, Development and Peace` as the theme of conference. Through a series of historical methods, this research aims to explain the progress of ICW in the terms of fighting for equality through the process of making the IWY agenda that was adopted in 1972 until the IWY Conference in 1975, also the impact of IWY Conference on the interests of ICW and international women's movement. There has been some research on the IWY Conference, but there is no research that has been made specifically discussing about the role of ICW in the conference. The results of this research indicate that ICW has an important role in shaping the equality agenda at the IWY Conference which was apparently supported by the Cold War political interests behind it.
In 19th century, the condition of subordinate women in America triggered them to fight for their equality. This movement has expanded to become an international movement along with the development of transportation and telecommunications in America-Europe. Starting from this, the Women International Non-Governmental Organization (WINGO) was formed as an association of the international women`s movement. The International Council of Women (ICW) is the first WINGO in the world formed in 1888, Washington D.C. Throughout its history, ICW has worked for women`s equality in the international scope through League of Nations and the United Nations. One of them was in the making of the first women`s international conference, which is International Women`s Year (IWY) Conference 1975 with `Equality, Development and Peace` as the theme of conference. Through a series of historical methods, this research aims to explain the progress of ICW in the terms of fighting for equality through the process of making the IWY agenda that was adopted in 1972 until the IWY Conference in 1975, also the impact of IWY Conference on the interests of ICW and international women`s movement. There has been some research on the IWY Conference, but there is no research that has been made specifically discussing about the role of ICW in the conference. The results of this research indicate that ICW has an important role in shaping the equality agenda at the IWY Conference which was apparently supported by the Cold War political interests behind it.