IWPG, at the center of spreading peace education for women, expands its global influence through UN CSW

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The International Women's Peace Group (IWPG, CEO Yoon Hyun-sook) participated in the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) Conference, which was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from the 10th to the 21st. IWPG held three important events to raise awareness of the importance of women's peace education and to take the lead in achieving gender equality and justice and building peace for African women and girls.

On the 10th, IWPG, in collaboration with the African Union (AU), held a side event entitled 'Reparations, Gender Justice and Peace Promotion for African Women and Girls: Agenda for 2025 and Beyond' at the African Union-UN Commission in New York. The event was co-hosted by the Gender Equality is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Network, the African Union Bureau for Women, Gender and Youth Affairs (AUC WGYD), the African Union International Centre for Girls' and Women's Education (AU CIEFFA) and UN Women.

The event was a meaningful occasion to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Speakers included Simon Yanki Ouattara, Chair of AU CIEFFA, Secretary General of IWPG Jeong Na-hyun, Director of GIMAC Youth Network Melisalubimbo Kububorno, African Women Solidarity Kokumba Porvene and Gender is Our Agenda (GIMAC) Network Coordinator, and Director of the African Union Commission's Women, Gender Equality and Youth Bureau Puldance Umwenya.

In addition to the side events, IWPG also prepared two other events. On the 12th, an online NGO forum hosted by IWPG headquarters was held with the theme, "Women who have learned peace, changing the world: The power of women and education." In particular, this online forum was held to strengthen women's role in peacebuilding amid the increasing number of conflict situations around the world. Around 600 female leaders participated in the forum, where global examples and results of women's peace education and future directions for development were presented. In particular, specific examples were shared of the positive impact that IWPG's women's peace education programs implemented in various regions, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, have had on local communities.

On the 18th, the local NGO forum was held at the Church Center in front of the United Nations Headquarters (CCUN) with the theme of 'Empowering Women and Peace Education', jointly organized by IWPG, Ballerina Management Institute Foundation (BMIT) and All India Women's Congress (AIWC). At the event, IWPG Headquarters Peace Education Director Lee Kyu-sung gave a keynote speech on the theme of 'The need to expand peace education for women to strengthen women's rights.'

In her speech, BMIT Director Ratna Joshi said, "Education is a fundamental element for women's empowerment, allowing them to fully participate in decision-making processes and access power, contributing to achieving equality, development and peace."

Meanwhile, IWPG CEO Yoon Hyun-sook participated as a panelist in the Philippine side event held at the UN Conference Room on the 17th and said, "Peace education makes women active agents and can fundamentally solve the problems we face, and a peace process involving women is a necessary element for a sustainable society. Let's make decisions, educate, and act for the sake of future generations so that the world will be filled with women who have the ability to make peace a reality."

March 8th is International Women's Day, established by the United Nations, a day to celebrate the social, economic and political contributions of women and promote gender equality. The UN CSW is one of the important activities to commemorate International Women's Day and is at the center of global discussions for gender equality and the promotion of women's rights. This year is particularly significant as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and the IWPG event takes on even greater significance in this historical context.

About IWPG

IWPG is a global women's organization registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC) of the United Nations Secretariat. It has 115 chapters and members in 123 countries, and approximately 800 affiliated organizations in 66 countries. With the vision of 'realizing sustainable world peace', it is actively working to spread solidarity, spread the culture of peace, provide peace education for women, and support and promote the legislation of the 'Declaration for an End to Global Village War (DPCW)'.