World Veterans Federation

The World Veterans Federation was created on 15th November 1950 in Paris. Today, it is the largest veteran federation in the word, with over 170 veterans and war victim associations in 85 countries, totalling approximately 39 million veterans.

In keeping with its Credo, "None can speak more eloquently for peace than those who have fought in war", it has the highest advisory status with the United Nations.

The main statutory objectives of the WVF are as follows:

a)	To maintain international peace and security by the application to the letter and in the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and by respecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms set forth in the International Bill of Human Rights and other international instruments;
b)	To defend the spiritual and material interests of war veterans and war victims by all legal and constitutional means;
c)	To promote the full integration of war veterans and victims of war in their respective communities by overcoming the physical and psycho-social consequences of armed conflicts in establishing appropriate rehabilitation and legislation to the effect;
d)	To establish permanent relations among the national associations or federations and international organizations of war veterans and victims of war in all countries and, as appropriate, organizations of persons with disabilities;
e)	To encourage direct cooperation and relations of friendship and understanding among national associations or federations and the exchange of experience in all fields affecting their interests;
e)	To preserve the sacred memory of the war dead.

The WVF carries out the above-mentioned objectives by means of its Executive Board, Secretariat, Financial and Standing Committees. There are four Standing Committees as such: on European Affairs, on African Affairs, for Asia and Pacific, and on Women. These Committees establish working groups for the study of specific matters when required.

The Standing Committee on European Affairs established a Working Group on Central and Eastern Europe (WG CEE). Prof. Michał Chilczuk (Poland) was elected Chairman of this working group at the 23rd General Assembly of the WVF, held in Paris in December 2000.

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ul. Bukowa 2, 02-708 Warszawa, Poland, tel./fax: (+4822) 8483350,
e-mail: veterans@copernicus.org.pl