IWPG 2025 June Newsletter

IWPG (International Women’s Peace Group) held the International Loving-Peace Art Competition. Additionally, IWPG proceeded with signing MOU/MOAs, advocating for the legislation of the DPCW, promoting the activation of the PLTE, networking with civil society, and spreading a culture of peace.

International Women’s Peace Group (Chairwoman Hyun Sook Yoon) is spreading Peace Lecturer Training Education (PLTE) all around the world. Women worldwide, from conflict zones in Myanmar to Madagascar, are actively engaging in Peace Education and transforming into leaders of their local communities.
IWPG Kachin State Peace Committee of Myanmar provided all 8 lessons of PLTE at the office of Shan Women Development Network every Sunday in May. Six people are to graduate from the class.
Kham Yin, the Representative of Kachin Peace Committee and founder of Shan Women Development Network, and 2 other instructors, all having completed PLTE previously, took turns providing the lectures.
Nang Mwe Kham, one of the trainees, said, “I learned the activities and value of IWPG, and the relationship between war and peace. This is all useful knowledge as an IWPG member.”
Nang Hont Sein said, “I now understand that politics is also relevant to me and what kind of leader I should select. I learned about the UN and Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) and the necessity of an international law. I learned each of the 10 clauses of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War and the value of the declaration.”
Aye Thandar Aung said, “By actively working with IWPG, I learned more about world peace. Peace begins with me and spreads to my surroundings. I feel IWPG is a movement to move the world with a warm heart.”

Global Region 10 (Regional Director Hwa Jeong Kim) also started a peace instructor class based on the new revised textbook in Mexico and Pakistan on May 1. 20 people from Mexico and 4 from Pakistan signed up for this meaningful journey.
Melania Tapia, a student from the Mexico class, said, “I am sincerely happy to meet such women purely dedicated to peace. Last year, I struggled to look for what I needed, so I am grateful that IWPG has given me this valuable opportunity to work systematically.”
Anita Arif, a student from the Pakistan class, said, “I learned once again that I must actively build peace through education and practice. I’m now ready to act for peace.”

Peace Education is also being offered in Korea. Goyang Branch held the PLTE session of Lesson 1, “Peace and I,” online. One student said, “I always wondered how peace would be taught, and I could sense by perspective broadening when learning the international context of peace and global expense on war and national defense. I should first start making peace in my heart.”

There were also achievements in Africa. On May 31, the Antananarivo team of Madagascar successfully completed PLTE for 20 people. The first lesson was held on April 26, International Women’s Peace Day, and various organizations and leaders in Antananarivo participated. The graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place at the end of June, and Madagascar’s first female peace instructors will graduate in Antananarivo.

Advanced education was also provided in the Philippines. In September, the Manila Branch of the Philippines (Branch Manager April Otadoy) offered advanced education for the graduates of the 1st PLTE class, enabling them to develop into peace leaders.
This advanced program was an interactive curriculum in which the graduates could create their own lecture notes based on their experience and learnings.
Mrs. Ladelle Dimpas, one of the graduates, said, “I now feel like a true peace messenger. I’m happy to be able to support the 2nd PLTE class for other potential peace leaders.”

On May 15, Manila Branch also started a new Peace Education class. The 22 training applicants showed their passion and enthusiasm for education. They engaged actively from the beginning, including the discussions and activities.
The students were particularly interested in the “family peace law” assignment and how to apply it to their lives and families. This shows that peace education is not a mere theory but a practical concept that can be applied to everyday life.

Global Region 3 is offering PLTE in the local community to secure the foundation for the establishment of a new branch in India and sustainable Peace Education.
The aim of this class is to nurture online and offline peace instructors in India, discover local peace activists with connections with women’s organizations, and train key members of the new upcoming branch.
The students will deeply contemplate the value of peace and grow to practice the value of life and peace. Based on an understanding of the DPCW, they will learn the trend of international peace movements and the necessity of a strong international law to cease war.

In May and June, the preliminaries of the International Loving-Peace Art Competition (ILPAC) hosted by IWPG took place in 15 countries worldwide—Rwanda, Myanmar, Cameroon, Burundi, Czech, the Netherlands, South Africa, England, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Palestine, India, Pakistan, and Uganda. 3,000 children and youth joined to express their dreams on paper.

It is notable that the event was held in regions with a history of war and conflict. One student participant from Khalil Al Skakini High School of Palestine said, “I learned that peace starts from being kind to people and trying to avoid conflict. I hope my drawings resonate with all those who desire peace.”
41 students and teachers participated from Rwanda Groupe Scolaire APADE. Principal Bayisenge Elevanie said, “This year’s 7th competition has developed. The students now have a good understanding of the theme and peacebuilding.”
At Yangon Branch of Myanmar, 52 people participated from the National Young Women’s Christian Association. Myat Thu Thu Aung, the representative of Innovation for Educational Life, said, “The participants were enthusiastic to draw.”

In Korea, the preliminaries took place in Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, Gumi, Gyeongju, Jaecheon, Jeongup, Gwangju, Mokpo, Yeosu, Suncheon, Suwon, and Pyeongtaek. 1,500 children and parents joined to draw on the theme “What I(we) can do to build peace”
200 people joined at the Daegu preliminary held at National Debt Redemption Movement Memorial Park. Regional Direct Su Jin Park said, “I hope this platform of learning peace and these messages of peace through the pure eyes of children contribute to the spread of the DPCW.”
Approximately 300 people gathered at Saemaul Undong Theme Park to participate in the Gumi Branch preliminary held under the regional slogan, “Everyone new heart, new village.” Branch Manager Myung Sook Kim said, “It was an opportunity for everyone to become one and discuss peace. The children’s drawings and commitment of the residents are a true demonstration of ‘Everyone new heart, new village’.”

The event also took place in Europe. The Prague team of the Czech Republic hosted the competition with 231 students from 17 schools in 12 cities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. One child explained, “The competition taught me that everyone is difficult, so we must respect each other’s differences. Regardless of appearance, we must love each other.”
For the Netherlands Rotterdam Branch preliminary, a total of 22 people—7 in person at a local library and 15 online—gathered. Branch Manager Dejavu Vieira emphasized that “This is an important activity that allows future generations to dream and express their thoughts about peace.”
In England, the preliminary was held at Manchester Museum. Dr. Erinma Bell, Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Greater Manchester and Magistrate, said, “I am amazed at what you do. You are spreading light to everyone.”

This year’s event went beyond a drawing contest to spread a culture of peace to children and youth by teaching them about the history of war and the scars it leaves, along with hope for world peace. Each event also opened a booth to promote the DPCW so that more people can understand the necessity of an international law for peace and the role of women in the process.
In Manenberg, South Africa, artists from Butterfly Art Foundation contributed as judges for the competition, and local organizations provided meals and transportation for free, demonstrating an exemplary case of community collaboration and peace spirit.
The best pieces selected through the preliminaries will be sent to the IWPG HQ, and the final award winners will be announced at the award ceremony in October after the final deliberation in September. IWPG, under the philosophy that peace starts from education, has been hosting this competition every year with the aim of spreading peace culture and will continue to collaborate with educational institutions, public institutions, and civil society organizations to spread peace education and peace culture.

IWPG is rapidly expanding its female network based on solidarity in major regions.

On May 10, Global Region 4 held the Global Leadership Network Meeting with 23 female leaders from Cameroon, Myanmar, and Rwanda. It started with watching an IWPG highlight video, followed by Peace Education promotion and leadership training.
Aye Mya Mya Myo, Spokesperson of Myanmar Women Parliamentarians Network, said, “Peace Education will be more helpful when actually applied. When we understand each other and share our thoughts, our partnership will strengthen.”
Sylvie Kamasa Anwi from Cameroon said, “Through this education, I gained a deeper understanding of what peace leaders need to do and how they must take responsibility even in unfavorable circumstances to realize our vision.”
Munezero Antoinette, Control commeet of Tumurere Organization, from Rwanda said, “The meeting was fruitful, and the questions were enlightening. I am grateful for everyone’s commitment to peacebuilding.”

On May 13, Ulaanbaatar Branch of Mongolia (Branch Manager Tumurkhuyag Enkhtaivan) successfully held the 2025 IWPG Mongolian Women’s Peace Assembly at the Ulaanbaatar Hotel under the theme “Peace through Women’s Solidarity.”
This meaningful event gathered approximately 350 people, including Mongolian government officials, IWPG Peace Committee Representatives, MOU/MOA organization leaders, Women’s Peace Education graduates, and IWPG members, to discuss peacebuilding and solidarity of women.
Ulaanbaatar Branch has offered Women’s Peace Education to 1,200 people so far and has managed to establish 18 Peace Committees in 18 out of 21 Aimags across the country. Four more Peace Committee Representatives were inaugurated during the Assembly, demonstrating the spread of peace culture nationwide.
IWPG has strengthened the Mongolian local peace network by raising awareness through Peace Education, cultural exchange, peace instructor training, and sustainable peace campaigns.
Regional Director Lim Mi-Suk said, “We will continue to support Ulaanbaatar Branch by developing and executing new peace activities so that the Branch can grow further and achieve tangible results.”

On May 1, Berlin Branch (Branch Manager Yingyan Cao) participated in the Project Day event at Brückenfest of Frankfurt Oder. This event took place in front of Oder City Hall with 5,000 citizens. At the event, Berlin branch promoted the IPLAC with Rodina e.V. and Doppelstadtkultur e.V.

On May 7, Global Region 10 held a Zoom meeting with Kazakhstan Peace Committee Representative Saule Khozhamuratova to discuss measures to facilitate Peace Committee activities in the country. Last April, Ms. Saule planned and held the Peace Week event featuring the IWPG April 26 International Women’s Peace Day celebration and the ILPAC.

On May 24, Global Region 8 held a Zoom meeting with Florence Nkhuwa, CEO of Lifeline Childline Zambia. This meeting aimed to find avenues for collaboration and ways to promote IWPG’s initiatives at the 11th International Consultation of Child Helplines (IC2025) to be held in Zambia in June.
IC2025 is co-hosted by Lifeline Childline Zambia and Child Helpline International from June 24 to 26 under the theme “Child Helpline Design for Children’s Mental Health, Violence Prevention and Response in 2030 and Beyond.”
CEO Florence Nkhuwa has much experience in the field of women and children and is willing to use it to actively support IWPG peace education. She expressed her anticipation toward potential collaboration opportunities with IWPG.

On May 24, Global Region 2 (Regional Director Seo Yeon Lee) held an online peace workshop for raising peace awareness and social capacity building.
This workshop, first proposed by Josiane Hajj Moussa, head of the prominent Lebanese media outlet Beirut Times, was planned to lay the foundation for a sustainable women’s peace network in the Middle East and strengthen the social role of women through peace education and discussions. It also aimed to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through women’s participation in peacebuilding processes.
The workshop invited 100 women from neighboring Middle East countries to discuss the theme “The Role of Women in Peacebuilding.” It was a valuable platform to build a network among female leaders in different regions.
Sophie We, the moderator of the event, said, “The Middle East is the cradle of human civilization and the region in most need of peace in the modern era. Women are not merely the victims of war but the center of community recovery, and true peace is not possible without the active contribution of women.”
Patricia Elias, Chief of Global Diplomatic Campaign for the Every Women Treaty, emphasized the significance of institutional equality and said, “The UN is encouraging women to be invited to the peace negotiation table as equal contributors.”
Josiane Hajj Moussa, Head of Beirut Times, said, “Peace starts from our mind, thoughts, and actions. Despite different ways of life, our path is the same: peace. Interest in IWPG is growing in Lebanon, which is why we are preparing an offline workshop. We will continue to spread the message of peace through Peace Letter activities.”
Naglaa Sadd, Director of the Yemen Rural Development Foundation, said, “Women are flexible and intelligent, and they have the ability to resolve conflicts through love and peace. Women who understand their potential are the key to world peace.”
Journalist Somayeh Malekian confessed, “As a journalist who must keep neutrality, I always wonder how I can contribute to peace activities.” Various opinions were also shared during the discussion.
The event also featured an introduction to PLTE. The education is provided in Arabic and English, and those who complete the education will be certified as a peace instructor and can offer the lectures to others. PLTE is a model case that contributes to SDG #4 (quality education) and #16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions).
Starting with this workshop, Global Region 2 will continue to implement various peace programs to strengthen the peace capabilities of women in the Middle East, including Lebanon.

On May 7, Global Region 2 signed a peace initiative MOU with Souraplatform (Representative Mahmoud Alshboul), a professional platform for cultural arts and media within Jordan.
Souraplatform is a Jordan-based media outlet that spreads social dialogue grounded in the values of creativity, innovation, and harmony through integrated content encompassing culture, art, and technology. It is particularly known as a platform for female and youth creators and artists in the Middle East.
Through this partnership, the two organizations agreed to find tangible avenues of collaboration and build a culture of peace together, including female leadership and creativity education, joint local cultural art projects, DPCW promotion, and Korea-Jordan cultural exchange events.
Mahmoud Alshboul, Representative of Souraplatform, said, “This MOU is the start of a peace-centered content partnership. I plan to give Arabic women and youth more opportunities to grow into world citizens through partnership with IWPG.”
Global Region 2 Director Seo Yeon Lee said, “Partnership with media is a prerequisite to spreading the message of peace. The power of truth coming from the press will become the key to bringing peace for women, children, and humanity.

Hello, I’m Mini Suboth. I’m an artist by profession and an art coach, a peace advocate based in India.
I founded the organization AkshayaShakti Welfare Association in 2010. The organization AkshayaShakti mainly works for education, empowerment, and health in need, and the motto is “help, heal, educate, and empower.” The organization has been working a lot for women’s empowerment, and we have a project mission: one million by 2030, and in that, we have started the work of empowering women.
Ultimately, we know that peace begins at home, right? So the woman is happy at home. There’s a lot of peace that comes from the children in the school, and art and education have always been at the heart of our work because I believe both can ignite change and inspire peace. I hope that’s a short note about myself and the organization.

Becoming a member. Yes, becoming a member of IWPG was truly a meaningful step for me. And signing the MOU during the CSW session at the United Nations Headquarters, it’s not really just a commitment but a shared value of peace, sisterhood, and sustainable development. Meeting during the women’s a memorable moment is that during the Women’s Day meeting, all the delegates and sharing the space of the women leaders around the world who are all working for peace in different ways. And the moment was during the peace painting, seeing all the artists, students, children, and community members all come together to paint a shared vision of harmony was very very powerful.
It reminded me that peace is not just an ideal, but it’s something we create together, brush stroke by brush stroke. That’s what I feel.

Actually, the inspiration came from the belief that peace and sustainability go hand in hand, and that art has the power to transcend boundaries and speak directly to the heart. I wanted to use this universal language to honor the Earth and amplify the voices of the people, especially the youth who really envision a greener and more peaceful planet. The 120-meter peace canvas was not just a painting; actually, it was a living dialogue between people and the earth. It’s really a dialogue between the people and the Earth.
Through every brushstroke, we express hope, unity, and responsibility. My message is: let us nurture peace not only between people but also with nature. A peaceful world is a sustainable one, and every one of us is an artist in creating it, right?

Absolutely. I would love to expand the peace canvas project globally, inviting different communities from different countries to contribute to a traveling art installation dedicated to peace and the SDGs.
I also envision a youth-led creative workshop, especially focused on peace education and environmental awareness, and women’s leadership.
Art therapy for conflict-affected areas is something that is very close to my heart.
And I believe IWPG’s work, global network, and AkshayaShakti’s grassroots engagement can together create space where art, education, and activism need to build lasting peace. That’s what I think.

To the beautiful IWPG peace family across the world, thank you. Thank you so much for standing strong, for believing in peace, and for walking the way. Your work truly matters deeply in a world full of noise.
You continue to be the voice of compassion in a world full of division. Continue to build bridges and remember peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is a presence of justice, love, and respect for all in life. Let’s keep creating it together.
Thank you so much, IWPG, for giving me a chance to be a member of your organization and work for peace, and I really love to and I look forward to working together.