IWPG 2025 March Newsletter

The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) carried on its mission in 2025, continuing on with the peace efforts of February. IWPG proceeded with ▲signing MOUs and MOAs to advance peace, ▲promoting the legislation of the DPCW, ▲facilitating PLTE, ▲networking and collaborating with civil society groups.

On Feb 25, IWPG Global Region 4 (Regional Director Jang Myeong Ok) organized an online MOU signing ceremony with ‘All Lady’s Dream’, a Myanmar-based organization. 
All Lady’s Dream offers vocational training, awareness-raising activities, daycare services for young women, basic medical care, and mediation for labor disputes.
Mar Mar Oo, the General Director of All Lady’s Dream, said, “The peace initiative and education of IWPG help me feel more connected to the world. If we join IWPG, it will positively impact girls and women.”
Both parties have agreed to collaborate on various initiatives and activities, including peace awareness seminars, women’s peace education and the International Loving-Peace Art Competition.

IWPG Global Region 2 (Regional Director Seo Yeon Lee) recently held an online MOU signing ceremony with FIPOK (Filipino Psychology Organization in Kuwaitm, President Aisha V. Albakit) to advance peace initiatives. 
Aisha Albakit, the president, shared her aspiration: “We plan to implement a counseling program with IWPG for women who have experienced conflicts.” She added, “We will encourage more women in Kuwait to get involved in peace efforts.”
Seo Yeon Lee stated, “Mental health holds greater value than ever in modern society and is essential for enhancing the quality of life for humanity. Our unity will serve as hope for world peace and a significant asset for the future.”

IWPG Tokyo Branch conducted PLTE Class 24-1-1 in February, with Ohki Kazumi as the lecturer. 
One of the participants, Kitani Kimiko, shared her thoughts: “IWPG’s work has reached 123 countries in just ten years, which I find amazing. I would love to introduce it to my friends and acquaintances.” 
Takahashi Junko stated, “First, I will try to find peace in my heart.” Nakanosono Haruna expressed her wish, “Through the training, I have come to realize that I have not yet achieved peace of mind. I want to focus on cultivating a peaceful mindset through the training.”

In February, IWPG Global Region 10 (Regional Director Kim Hwa Jeong) conducted PLTE Pakistan Class 25-1, led by Peace Committee Representative Samra Shahzadi.
After her lecture, Representative Samra Shagzadi, a lawyer, said, “I am pleased to have become a peace lecturer for IWPG, whose vision reminds us that women have a unique role in fostering peace. I aspire to be a messenger who spreads peace and understands and contributes to advancing peace for future generations.”

IWPG Czech Team conducted four sessions of Women’s Peace Education in February. The training was mainly attended by Ukrainian women who had firsthand war experience. It focused on ▲justice and harmony, ▲peace and culture, ▲peace and war, ▲the peace movement and cessation of war. The participants said they learned that peace begins within themselves and that they should respect their lives.

The IWPG Paju Branch (Branch Manager Jae-Soon Choi) conducted women’s peace education with ten participants, including women from the Sakhalin compatriots’ society and members of the Paju Branch. This program included three sessions focused on the theme “You Are the Women Who Achieve Peace.” The training aimed to empower women to recognize the need to end war, the value of peace, and how to achieve and practice these ideals. The Sakhalin compatriots’ society fosters a culture of peace within their families and local communities, developing a deeper understanding of peace through this education. The participants commented, “It was an opportunity to recognize the significance of peace, and this education will continue to be available.”

IWPG Global Region 2 conducted Women’s Peace Education for 400 participants, Session 3 to 8, in February. 
The peace lecturer, Hellen Prieto, emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of peace by explaining the root causes of violence and how to eliminate it effectively. 
Karina Rodriguez Cardenaz underscored the significance of women’s peace education, saying, “Many girls are suffering from abuse due to the war. Educating them about their rights from a young age is essential.” She further expressed, “Through this education, girls and women can protect themselves and be empowered to transform society.”
Patricia Laura stated, “Rather than taking conflicts for granted, we should believe that we can make a difference. Women’s peace education will be a key focus in promoting a culture of peace and raising awareness.”

IWPG Global Region 2 hosted the completion ceremony of Women’s Peace Education with approximately 60 graduates from six countries, including Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Palestine and Algeria.  
This education emphasizes empowering women in the Middle East to contribute to ending war and building peace. The participants showed their commitment to practicing peace leadership and engaging in peace promotion within the local community going forward.
Dr. Faeza Abdel-Raqeeb Salam, Yemen’s Deputy Minister of Culture, as a representative of participants, said, “Through Women’s Peace Education, I have come to realize that peace is not just a concept but work we must engage in, and I am committed to working for peace from this moment on.”
The Regional Director, Seo Yeon Lee, emphasized, “Today, the world urgently needs peace education to promote the values of reconciliation and coexistence instead of confrontation and competition, in various fields including war, conflict, and climate change.” She urged, “Please become peace agents who can share the true spirit of peace with local communities through peace education in every country and region by planting the seed of peace.”

IWPG Global Region 3 conducted sessions 1 to 4 of the Women’s Peace Education program in February with international participants. Learners from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan participated in the training, engaging in various learning activities aimed at building peace within themselves and their families.

In particular, participants worked on assignments focused on developing self-respect and cultivating peaceful habits within their households. Through this process, they were able to experience peace not as a mere theory but as a practical and communicative approach, helping them foster a sustainable culture of peace in their daily lives.

Notably, graduates from the previous term took on the challenge of leading lectures during this course. Global Region 3 plans to continue its efforts to establish a practice-oriented culture of peace through Women’s Peace Education.

IWPG Global Region 5 (Regional Director Su Jin Park) met with D.C. Udayanga Peiris from the Embassy of Sri Lanka to discuss cooperation for peace. Global Region 5 has selected Sri Lanka as a focus area for expanding peace initiatives.
During the meeting, Global Region 5 discussed the purpose and outcomes of the 6th International Loving-Peace Art Competition last year and encouraged collaboration to help schools in Sri Lanka participate.
D.C. Udayanga Peiris said, “I am pleased to participate in meaningful activities that promote peace. I will try to encourage more schools to get involved in Sri Lanka.”

On Feb 12, IWPG Berlin Branch Manager Yingyan Cao and branch member Carmen attended a cultural exhibition hosted by the Mexican Embassy in Berlin. The event attracted around 200 guests and provided an opportunity to network with several notable individuals, including Tadeo Berjón Molinares, Director of the Mexican Culture Institute in Germany; Linda Bartels from FFD: Familien- und Partnerorganisation im Auswärtigen Amt e. V.; and coordinators from the Let’s Go event group to discuss potential collaboration between the Mexican Cultural Institute in Berlin and IWPG.

On Feb 21, IWPG Global Region 10 hosted the second online meeting with Aranza Alexa Olvera, a Mexican peace activist. After sharing news of the Mexico Peace Committee’s the first meeting and activity on social media, Olvera gave students lollipops with inspiring quotes about peace and women’s empowerment, expressing her feelings: “So aspirational. I felt surprised by the people at first, then truly happy and grateful. It was so meaningful that small details could make such a difference in a day.”
“I think the next step is Women’s Peace Education. Through the Peace Committee’s new activities with teachers and meetings with the staff and students at UAEMex (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México) in Amecameca this March, I plan to present on DPCW with IWPG.”

On Feb 28, IWPG Washington D.C. Branch (Branch Manager Chikodili Deborah Ekweozo) conducted a storytelling workshop with Islamic Relief USA at 3655 Wheeler Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. 
The workshop, a lunch-and-learn event designed to develop dialogue and reconciliation, had 64 attendees, including peace activists, local community leaders and students.
Aseel Elborno, an officer at the Islamic Relief USA, said, “The storytelling training was impressive. I expect the workshop to be offered in Women’s Peace Education.”
Chikodili Deborah Ekweozo, the Branch Manager, said, “I hope the two organizations can exchange ideas to expand impactful activities for women through peace education and collaboration.”

On Feb 20, IWPG Global Region 6 (Regional Director Park So Yeong) hosted the Only Peace Conference at Sangji University’s main auditorium in Wonju.
The event was attended by almost 180 participants, including local leaders such as Lee Yang Hyeong, IWPG advisor; Yoon Yeong Ho, Chairman of the Wonju Council of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council; Ha Seok Gyun, Gangwon State provincial member; Lee Byeong Gyu, Member of Wonju city council; Gu Ja Yeol, Chairman of the Wonju Tomorrow Institute; Won Chang Muk, the former mayor of Wonju; and the citizens. 
Park So Yeong, the Regional Director, said, “The significance of peace must be recognized and practiced through education.”
The attendants emphasized the importance of solidarity and shared the value of sustainable peace.

IWPG Global Region 5 continues its activities in India to spread messages of peace.
Three of last year’s six graduates of PLTE Class 6 are undergoing supplementary training to enhance their skills as peace lecturers. Global Region 5 offers a structured education to help them develop into professional peace lecturers.
Thakur Shyamnarayan Kandivali B.Ed College in Mumbai, India, has offered Women’s Peace Education to about 40 female students since February. 
Su Jin Park, the Regional Director, stated, “The initiative that empowers women to learn about and advocate for peace is currently being implemented in India. I will do my utmost to support more women in becoming peace leaders through ongoing education and exchanges.”

On Feb 8, IWPG Global Region 5 hosted a clay molding competition under the theme ‘Peace: a Better World Molded in Our Hands.’ The event, organized by the Peace Committee, involved twenty students and three teachers who created works expressing the meaning of peace.
Using clay, the students conveyed their ideas about peace by creating pieces that represented messages of peace, friendship, and harmony. Highlighting the theme, ‘We can make the world a better place with our own hands,’ the event encouraged students to explore the value of peace more profoundly, beyond simply enjoying the artistic activity.
Through their work, the students conveyed that if we, born on the same planet, can shape our hearts with love and understanding, we can create a peaceful future.

On Feb 17, six Korean Branches (Incheon, Incheon-Seo, Namdong, Michuhol, Yeonsu, and Gyeyang) of IWPG Global Region 9 (Regional Director Lim Mi-Sook) jointly hosted the 4th ‘Peace Golden Bell’, a peace quiz competition, at the Bupyeong Art Center. 
About 40 people, including the Peace Committee representatives, members and staff, attended, and Kim Young-ui from Incheon Branch, rang the Peace Golden Bell as the final winner. 
Responding to the questions about peace, the participants could learn about IWPG peace activities and how to practice peace.

Rotterdam Branch in the Netherlands (Branch Manager Dejavu Vieira) promoted IWPG’s peace initiatives and DPCW on Beursplein, Rotterdam.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the branch prepared roses, symbols of love, which attracted the attention of people on the street. Then, they explained the importance of sustainable peace and the particular role of women in it. 
As a result, 38 new members registered with IWPG, and many citizens showed their support for IWPG’s international peace initiatives. Women in their 20s and 30s expressed their interest in the DPCW and joined the membership.

Our country is still suffering from the war that has been raging for more than a decade and is still ongoing, which is what encouraged me to work for peace and oppose war and violence against women because they are the cornerstone of the family and society.
My sister, a journalist and member of the IWPG, suggested I join the IWPG, especially since I was already active in this field, to add a supportive platform to my work. My sister asked the IWPG for a private meeting for me to attend with her. We discussed the topic of peace, and I was invited, along with other Yemeni women, by the IWPG coordinator to attend the 6th International Women Leaders’ Peace Meeting’ with women leaders from around the world.

Everyone knows that our country has been experiencing a state of war and instability for a decade, and the future remains uncertain. While the government agreed to the politicians’ demands for peace with the Houthi communist militia, we, as citizens, continue to suffer and lack a sense of security and reassurance. To date, no positive results have been achieved from the peace negotiations to end the war.
I realized that these political negotiations were not enough and that, in the circumstances of our country, the willingness to find a rapprochement to stop the war was still far from being achieved.
I realized that these political negotiations were not enough and that the desire for negotiations, as stale as they are, would not bring about any rapprochement to end the war, which still remains elusive. However, after joining the IWPG, participating in the 6th international meeting and then taking part in the peace education training course, I realized that this choice is the true path to preventing wars and ending violence.
Actually, my knowledge of various aspects of peace, peace negotiations, and peacebuilding has developed, perhaps the most important of which is the peace education training course organized by the IWPG.
This training course, with its diverse topics, has greatly contributed to my change and acceptance of differences with others, whether in color, gender, or religion, and my tolerance of myself and others. The training course revealed a fundamental and essential strategy for peace to prevent war and violence: how to begin peace with me, then with the surrounding community and the world, and how to accept and be tolerant of others.
I consulted with some of my colleagues who attended the peace education training course, and we are working to establish a peace education group in Yemen. I believe that peace education begins with children, and its greatest benefit is to start with them.
I am proud to be a member of the IWPG and passionate about working for peace.
Thanks to the IWPG, I have changed a lot for the better, and I am very grateful to them for this change.

A tribute of appreciation and respect to the IWPG’s outstanding efforts in promoting peace and empowering women around the world. IWPG’s role is essential in building more stable and just societies, as sustainable development cannot be achieved without the active participation of women in peacemaking and conflict resolution.