IWPG holds meeting to commemorate Int`l Women`s Peace Day

The International Women's Peace Group (IWPG, Chairwoman Hyun Sook Yoon) held the 6th International Branch Annual General Meeting online at 8:00 PM (KST) on January 19, to share the 2022 peace activities carried out by 100 branches in 118 countries and to announce the main plans for 2023.

The IWPG slogan for 2023 is “Strengthening Women’s Global Partnership for Sustainable Peace”. There are five directions to practice this. First is urging support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). It is a course of action to support for the adoption of the DPCW as a UN resolution and to focus on gathering the strength of citizens around the world.

Second is to recruit members through the establishment of a branch system. There are plans to stabilize the branches in Korean and expand to establish more overseas branches. Each branch will actively sign MOA and MOUs.

Third is to strengthen cooperation and exchange by continent, country, class, and topic by regularly holding the “International Women Leaders Peace Conference”. There will also be research, discussions, and academic conferences related to peace policy held.

Fourth is to produce textbooks for general women, revamp existing training materials for female peace lecturers, and establish a systematic education system.

Fifth is to establish IWPG's own brand identity, establish IWPG peace monuments, and gain general consultative status with UN ECOSOC.

Chairwoman Hyun Sook Yoon said in her review, “It has already been 10 years since IWPG has walked the path of peace. True peace can be achieved where there are people with the spirit of peace. This year, we ask that more women become members of the IWPG and work together as messengers of peace and spread peace education.”

In her congratulatory speech, Erlinda Olivia Tiu (Vice President of the Philippines National Federation of Women's Clubs), who attended the event, said, “I know that IWPG has more than 100 International Branch Offices working together for the cessation of global war and for the realization of World Peace. I am a witness to the fact that with the minimal staff each branch has, the staff has a gargantuan task of recruiting members and volunteers, to participate in the peace-building activities and to manage members. In this mission, we are one!”

Professor Khin Ni Ni Thein (Founder of the Myanmar Water Academy/Initiator of the Future Water Think Tank) of Myanmar said, “IWPG as a whole finds that the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) announced by HWPL, a peace cooperation group, contains the answer to peace, and urges to quickly apply what is contained in the clauses to the project and practice it directly. As women's solidarity and encouragement are important keys to realizing peace and establishing international laws, the role of the IWPG, which brings women around the world together, is naturally very important in realizing peace. Therefore, the 2023 IWPG International Branch Annual General Meeting is so crucial to realize sustainable peace.

Meanwhile, newly established branches include six branches in five countries: Melbourne, Australia (Branch Manager Marjorie Rose Raimundo); Das es Salaam, Tanzania (Branch Manager Pendo Addie), Nairobi, Kenya (Branch Manager Sophie); Kampala, Uganda (Branch Manager Norris Linda Nakimbugwe); Mandalay (Branch Manager Khin Mu Mu Han) in Myanmar, and Yangon (Branch Manager Crystal Po Gyaw) in Myanmar.

Outstanding branches in each category were selected and each received a prize of 200,000 KRW and a certificate. The Indonesian Branch was selected for the most media coverage. Global Region 2 was selected for the Overall Excellence Award and received a prize of 500,000 KRW and a certificate.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, IWPG is making efforts to support the peace activities of women around the world every year by raising the wind of practical peace around the world.