- Theme: ’What can we do to achieve peace’
- Children and Youth Convey Messages of Peace Through Art
The International Women's Peace Group (IWPG) Global Region 2, led by Director Seoyeon Lee, recently announced that it held the 7th Annual International Loving-Peace Art Competition at Nativity Girls Catholic School in Ethiopia. Approximately 150 students participated in the event, which was held under the theme, ‘What Can We Do to Achieve Peace‘.
The International Loving-Peace Art Competition, hosted annually by the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), provides children and youth with an opportunity to imagine a peaceful world and express it through art. As part of IWPG’s efforts to promote a culture of peace, the competition aims to raise awareness about the need to end wars around the world and to spread the value of peace. It is held each year in major cities across the globe to deliver messages of peace worldwide.
This competition went beyond a simple art event, aiming to help children and youth—the leaders of the next generation—recognize the importance of peace and develop a sense of global citizenship and peace consciousness. Notably, holding the preliminary round in Ethiopia, a country with a history of conflict and strife, served as a symbolic realization of IWPG’s belief that “peace begins with education.” In addition, an exhibition showcasing the winning artworks from the 6th International Loving-Peace Art Competition was held alongside the event, further amplifying local interest in the culture of peace.
One student who participated in the competition shared their thoughts, saying, “While drawing, I realized that peace isn’t something far away—it begins with me being kind to my friends and having a heart that tries to avoid conflict. I hope my artwork can become a small but warm echo for everyone who longs for peace.”
The preliminary round entries are first evaluated by school teachers, followed by an objective review by a panel of professional judges to determine the finalists. The selected artworks will later be exhibited at the African Union (AU).
IWPG plans to continue expanding peace education through collaboration with educational institutions, government agencies, and civil society, while consistently developing tailored peace content suited to the characteristics of each region.
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). With 115 branches across 122 countries and active partnerships with 808 organizations in 68 countries, IWPG is dedicated to spreading solidarity, promoting a culture of peace, providing women’s peace education, and advocating for the legislation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), all under its vision of achieving sustainable global peace.