- About 100 Women from the Middle East Participated… Introduction to Women’s Peace Education for Achieving the SDGs
The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) Global Region 2, led by Director Seoyeon Lee, successfully held an online peace workshop on May 24 aimed at raising peace awareness and strengthening the social empowerment of women in Lebanon.
The workshop, proposed by Josiane Hajj Moussa, CEO of the prominent Lebanese media outlet Beirut Times, was designed to go beyond a one-time event. It aimed to expand the social roles of women in Lebanon through education and discussions on peace, while laying the groundwork for a sustainable women’s peace network across the Middle East. Additionally, the initiative seeks to make a tangible contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting women’s active participation in peacebuilding.
The workshop, held under the theme “Women’s Role in Peacebuilding,” was attended by approximately 100 women from Lebanon and neighboring Middle East countries, who engaged in lively discussions. It served as a meaningful platform for fostering cooperation among regional women leaders.
Sophie We, the moderator of the event, emphasized, 'The Middle East is the birthplace of human civilization and the region that most desperately needs peace today,' and added, 'Women are not merely victims of war, but are central to community recovery, and true peace is impossible without the active participation of women.'"
Patricia Elias, Chief of Global Diplomatic Campaign for the Every Women Treaty, emphasized the importance of institutional equality, stating, “The UN recommends 50:50 equal participation of women at peace negotiation tables.”
Josiane Hajj Moussa, CEO of Beirut Times, stated, “Peace begins in the heart, mind, and actions. Although our ways of life may differ, the path to peace we must follow is the same. As interest in IWPG continues to grow in Lebanon, we are also preparing for an offline workshop. Moving forward, we will continue to spread messages of peace through Peace Letter activities.”
Naglaa Saad, Director of the Yemen Rural Development Foundation, emphasized, “Women are flexible and wise beings with a unique ability to resolve conflicts through love and peace. Women who believe in their own abilities are the true key to achieving world peace.”
Journalist Somayeh Malekian candidly shared, “As a journalist who must maintain neutrality, I often wonder how I can contribute to peace efforts.” A lively exchange of diverse opinions on this topic took place during the open discussion session.
At the event, the “Peace Lecturer Training Education (PLTE)” program was also introduced. This course is offered in both Arabic and English, and upon completion, participants are certified as peace lecturers, enabling them to conduct peace education in their respective regions. PLTE is recognized as a leading successful example contributing to the achievement of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
IWPG Global Region 2 plans to expand a variety of programs aimed at strengthening the peacebuilding capacities of women in Lebanon and the broader Middle East region, starting with this workshop.
Meanwhile, IWPG is an international women’s NGO registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC), headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It currently operates in 115 branches across 122 countries and collaborates with 808 partner organizations in 68 countries, actively promoting the legalization of the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)” and the spread of a culture of peace worldwide.
