IWPG Global Region 2 Hosts “2026 Only Peace Conference – Latin America”
The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) Global Region 2, led by Director Seoyeon Lee, held the online international conference “2026 Only Peace Conference – Latin America” on April 23.
Held under the theme *“Peace Begins with Women’s Voices: From Experience to Connection and Action,”* the conference brought together approximately 200 participants, including government officials, educators, civil society representatives, and women leaders from eight Latin American countries, including Colombia, Argentina, and Chile. The event served as a platform for strengthening international solidarity.
The conference aimed to expand women’s lived experiences of peace in daily life and communities into international cooperation and practical action. It focused on building sustainable, community-based peace models through the participation of governments, educational institutions, civil society, and youth.
In her welcoming remarks, Director Seoyeon Lee emphasized:
“Peace is not created solely through institutions, but has already been practiced in the lives of women and within communities. Women are not merely participants in peace, but leaders and creators of peace. We hope this conference will serve as a starting point to connect the voices of women in Latin America to concrete cooperation and action.”
The event officially began with a video congratulatory message from H.E. Leonor Zalabata Torres, Ambassador of Colombia to the United Nations.
Ambassador Torres stated, “Peace begins within each of us and can be sustained through harmony with nature. The values and experiences of women can guide the direction humanity must take.”
During the Peace Story Session, speakers from different countries shared their lived experiences of peace-building.
Adriana María Torres Zapata, a lecturer at the University of Antioquia in Colombia, highlighted the need to connect women’s experiences of conflict resolution and peacebuilding to education, communities, and policy.
María José Lubertino Beltrán, a professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Buenos Aires, emphasized the importance of women’s solidarity and the protection of human rights.
Ediht Castaño Narváez from Colombia shared her personal journey of peace practice shaped by life experiences, while Valentina María Prigioni, a university student from Argentina, stressed that peace begins through empathy and human connection.
In the Open Mic Session, participants from Colombia, Chile, and other countries presented real-life examples of peace practices in education and local communities, demonstrating how peace is actively realized in everyday life.
Towards the end of the event, participants were encouraged to take part in peace initiatives ahead of International Women’s Peace Day on April 26. The conference concluded with a collective declaration of commitment through the “We Choose Peace” performance.
As a result of the conference, interest in participating in a regional women’s peace network in Latin America has grown, and collaboration between educational institutions and civil society has been further strengthened.
IWPG Global Region 2 plans to continue follow-up activities, including operating national peace education networks, expanding school and community-based peace campaigns, and promoting joint participation in International Women’s Peace Day.
IWPG is an international NGO registered with ECOSOC, the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC), and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea. The organization is actively working toward global peace with 115 branches in 122 countries and over 900 partner organizations in 68 countries.
