Mongolia is well known for its vast steppes and nomadic culture. But the peace movement that emerged here did not begin on a large scale.

Mongolia’s peace journey began with small gatherings of women who had learned about peace, coming together and sharing what they had learned with their local communities. The voluntary activities of women that grew from 2021 led to an inter-regional network and reached a new turning point the following year through an encounter with the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG).

This is a look back at the beginning of Mongolia’s peace journey, which started with small gatherings.

2021: Peace Beginning with Women’s Gatherings

It was in 2021 that the seeds of peace began to take root in Mongolia.

Mongolian women who completed the Peace Lecturer Training Education (PLTE) began holding group meetings and forums in their local communities to share what they had learned. Their activities extended the lessons of peace beyond individual learning and into families and communities.

These encounters naturally led to exchanges between regions. On February 27 of the same year, peace committee heads from four regions—Ulaanbaatar, Govisümber, Zamiin-Uud, and Bayanzürkh—gathered together.

The meeting provided an opportunity to share the activities taking place in each region and discuss ways to develop and expand peace activities.

Although the gathering was still small in scale, it was meaningful in that activities that had begun independently in different regions were starting to connect with one another. In this way, Mongolia’s peace activities gradually took shape through women’s voluntary participation and exchanges between regions.

2022: A New Encounter for Peace

One year later, on October 23, 2022, another important moment came in Mongolia’s peace journey.

On that day, IWPG was officially invited to a conference attended by approximately 300 Mongolian women, marking the beginning of more active exchanges between Mongolian women and IWPG.

One key figure at the meeting was Bude Munkhtuya, a former Member of Parliament and former Chair of the Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy.

Munkhtuya delivered a lecture titled The Current Status and History of Mongolian Women at the conference. As she discussed the roles and social status of Mongolian women, she was also introduced to IWPG’s peace activities and its approach to building peace.

What caught her attention was that IWPG’s message of peace did not remain a slogan. She saw the significance of women directly learning about and practicing peace together, with the goal of creating a world where peace can be sustained.

Recalling that moment, Munkhtuya said: “Because IWPG’s ultimate goal was ‘a world where peace is sustainable,’ I readily decided to cooperate with IWPG.”

The encounter between Mongolia’s voluntary women’s peace activities and IWPG became an opportunity to expand the country’s peace initiatives in a new direction.

A Journey Beginning with a Small Seed

The peace movement in Mongolia did not begin with grand plans.

Women who had learned about peace gathered to talk, and as they continued their activities in their respective regions, they gradually expanded their reach. The 2022 encounter with IWPG added a new direction to these ongoing efforts.

The following year brought another meaningful step in Mongolia’s peace journey. The 1st Mongolia Peace Assembly was held, bringing together women working for peace and leading to more concrete activities.

In the next article, we will revisit the scene of that day, when more than 350 Mongolian women gathered together to speak about peace.

Next Story ☞ [Peace Journey – Mongolia ②] A Day of Peace Joined by Over 350 Women