IWomen's Peace Day
- Leaders and peace activists from various countries participated… seeking solutions for peacebuilding
- Strengthening the global women’s peace network and promoting the value of women’s peace education worldwide
The International Women's Peace Group (IWPG), Global Region 2 (Regional Director Seo Yeon Lee), successfully hosted the international commemorative ceremony on April 26 under the theme "One Voice for Peace" to mark the 6th anniversary of ‘April 26 International Women’s Peace Day.’ The event was held online with the participation of over 300 high-level women leaders and peace activists from 12 countries, including South Korea, Australia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain, Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
In her welcoming speech, Seo Yeon Lee, Global Regional Director, said, “Women have long been victims of war, but now they stand tall as the architects of peace and the rebuilders of our future. We have gathered here to raise our voices as 'One Voice for Peace' beyond different languages, cultures, and time zones. I hope today becomes a true starting point for changing the world.”
IWPG Chairwoman Hyun Sook Yoon, in her commemorative address, said, “Over the past six years, the world has continued to shed tears of blood due to the Syrian civil war, the bloody situation in Myanmar, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Even Korea remains in a state of armistice, not peace, and without peace, our everyday lives can easily collapse.” She emphasized, “When women realize through peace education that they are influential beings capable of changing the world, they become the true agents of peace. I must be the beginning and embodiment of peace myself.”
In the following session, presentations by international peace experts were held. Faiza Abdel Rakib Salam, Deputy Minister of Culture, Yemen, said, “Women do not negotiate with weapons but build trust within communities through dialogue. We must go beyond viewing women’s participation as auxiliary and instead put the blueprint in their hands so we can design peace together.”
Dr. Manal Amin Al-Eseis of Jordan pointed out, “According to UN statistics, out of more than 1,000 peace agreements signed in recent decades, only 13% involved women at the negotiating table. We must correct the reality of designing peace without the critical voices of women.”
During the event, the IWPG Peace Committee was launched, focusing on conflict regions such as Ethiopia, Palestine, and Yemen. Riha Gama Chegaye (Ethiopia), Sana Izz Al-Deen Atary (Palestine), and Akhdar Mukhtar Nasser Bashjeera (Yemen) were each appointed as Peace Committee Chairs.
At the World Women’s Peace Awards ceremony, the following honors were awarded:
Global Peace Solidarity Award: Amira Ali El-Jarmal (Jordan)
International Peace Contribution Award: Arwa Fad Mohammed Saleh and Paeza Abdulla Kaib Salam Mujahid (Yemen)
Global Peace Education Laureate Award: Huda Rifed Ahmed Al-Katawi (Iraq)
Acknowledgement Plaques: Shin Seung Hee (South Korea), COLDES organization (Colombia)
Many leaders from partner countries also delivered peace messages. H.E. Leonor Zalabata Torres, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN, said, “Women symbolize the peace created by nature.” Mkanibwa Magoti Ngoboka, Chairperson of Iringa Peace Committee, Tanzania, stated, “We are the light and the hope of peace.” Numera Mohsen (Saudi Arabia) promised, “We will spread peace through education and training.” Hiba Issa Odeh Haddadin (Jordan) emphasized, “The power and solidarity of women can turn peace into reality.”
Meanwhile, IWPG is a global women’s NGO registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC). It operates 115 branches in 122 countries and works with 808 partner organizations in 68 countries. With the vision of “achieving sustainable world peace,” IWPG actively promotes global solidarity, the spread of a culture of peace, women’s peace education, and supports and advocates for the legislation of the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of
War (DPCW).”