Originally published on the CGS blog on March 29, 2016.
Barbara Martin Walker, one of the long-time and finest members of WFM, passed away on Friday, March 25. Barbara Walker and her husband Bob were “lifelong supporters” of world federalism and our peace movement. She served on the World Federalist Movement‘s Executive Committee for many years, as Treasurer and advisor. Barbara was 92 years old.
Barbara was tremendously dedicated to peace education. Amongst her contributions was the excellent reference book Uniting the Peoples and Nations. Compiled by Barbara, it is perhaps the closest text I know to an international Federalist Papers.
Hopefully, in celebrating Barbara’s life, WFM and others will reread this extraordinary collection of more than 100 writings, from Kant to Kennedy, Gorbachev to Boutros-Ghali, Hudson to Heinrich, Einstein to Falk. It remains one of the most important primers for peace and federalism.
Barbara also co-founded with Sally Swing Shelley an important United Nations non-governmental organization, the Committee on Teaching about the United Nations (CTAUN). The annual CTAUN conference at the UN for educators continues to gain in importance.
My wife Lydia Swart and I loved Barbara and Bob. Shortly after becoming WFM General Secretary/Executive Director in 1994, Lydia and I cherished house-sitting the Walkers’ beautiful home in Princeton, New Jersey while they vacationed at their island home in Menemsha, Massachusetts. Lydia and I will miss Barbara and celebrate the Walkers for the rest of our lives.
On behalf of WFM’s worldwide membership, we wish to send our deep condolences to Barbara’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as they honor her memory.
Written by William Pace
Convenor, Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC)
Steering Committee Member, International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP)
Executive Director, World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy (WFM-IGP)
