International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) held the 2025 International Women’s Peace Conference (IWPC) and invited female leaders from all over the world to discuss peace measures and strengthen solidarity. In September, IWPG held PLTE (Peace Leadership Training & Education) in three places. IWPG also signed peace MOU/As; advocated the legislation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW); partnered with civil society; and spread a culture of peace

Women leaders working for peace in all parts of the world scarred by conflicts and war have gathered in one place. The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG, Chairwoman Na Yeong Jeon) held the 2025 International Women’s Peace Conference on Sep 19 at Enford Hotel in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province.

The theme of the conference is “Beyond Conflict: Women’s Peace Leadership toward Hope and Recovery,” exploring sustainable peacebuilding methods with 800 participants from Korea and overseas. It is worth nothing that H.E. Bouaré Bintou Founé Samak, former Minister for the Promotion of Women, Children and Family of the transitional government of Mali; Dr. Faiza Abdulraqeb Sallam, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture of Yemen; and Hon. Aisha Al-Mahdi Shalabi, National Assembly Member of Parliament of Libya, who participated in this conference, are real female leaders living in past and present conflict zones.

IWPG’s representative project, Peace Leadership Training for Women (PLTE), focuses on developing women’s potential. Chairwoman Jeon explained, “The key is awakening women in conflict zones to how valuable and important each person is. The goal is to empower them through education so they can stand on their own and help neighbors in difficulty.”
For children, the organization holds the annual International Loving-Peace Art Competition to foster peace consciousness in future generations. Chairwoman Jeon revealed, “The purpose of the competition is to allow children to naturally receive peace education and grow as children of peace by thinking about, contemplating, and expressing peace.”
Chairwoman Jeon introduced the case of Mindanao, Philippines, as a success story of peace realization. She explained, “A conflict that claimed 120,000 lives over 40 years between Islam and Catholicism was resolved through HWPL, our partner organization. A simple question—‘Those who do not want peace, raise your hand’—moved people’s hearts and led to the signing of a peace agreement.”
Regarding the DPCW that IWPG supports, she introduced it as “a comprehensive peace framework that encompasses religious and ethnic conflicts that current international law does not address. It contains an innovative approach that goes beyond simply prohibiting war to resolve the root causes of conflict through educational innovation and the creation of a culture of peace.”
She also emphasized the importance of peace education within the home. Chairwoman Jeon stated, “The home is the best school and the world we first learn about. I believe that when one woman changes, the family changes, and that society and community change.” She added that they are pursuing the expansion of education through cooperation with government agencies along with peace education for adult women.
The press conference was attended by media from Indonesia, Yemen, Mongolia, and Japan. Chairwoman Jeon urged, “We must create a world of peace in our time. The role of the media is crucial in advancing the realization of peace.”

The Yangon Branch (Branch Manager Crystal Po Gyaw) and Mandalay Branch (Branch Manager Khin Mu Mu Han) and Kachin State Peace Committee (Committee representative Khan Yin) of Myanmar had a meeting at Enford Hotel in Cheongju on Sep 17. Four of the local representatives participated. The event started with a video on Global Region 4’s activities, and the Myanmar staff shared their work with IWPG. The branches from Korea also shared their experience and insight. The Myanmar staff agreed to apply the structure in Korea to their teams in Myanmar and planned membership recruitment activities and MOUs to facilitate the Myanmar branches.

During the duration of the conference, Global Region 2 (Regional Director Seo Yeon Lee) signed a peace partnership agreement with major institutions and organizations from three countries—Australia, Ethiopia, Colombia—and took a meaningful first step towards an international peace network. Through this agreement, IWPG built a strong partnership foundation to spread women-led peace culture and convey peace messages through the media.

On Sep 17, Global Region 2 met with Simone Yankey, Senior Policy Officer, and Lorato Palesa Modongo, Gender Data Research Office, from the International Center for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (CIEFFA) under the African Union (AU). Simone Yankey said, “The projects promoted by IWPG for women’s empowerment and spreading of a culture of peace pursue the same direction as AU CIEFFA’s mission of promoting peace through education. Let us use this meeting as an opportunity to concretize cooperation and explore together how IWPG’s peace projects can be linked with international organizations.” In response, Regional Director Seo Yeon Lee said, “Connection with the AU is an important steppingstone for the expansion of the IWPG global peace network. Let us build a sustainable cooperation system and create a women-led peace model that will attract the attention of the international community.”

Global Region 8 (Regional Director Kim Eunhee) opened a new horizon of global peace activities by signing a cooperation agreement on Sep 18 in Cheongju with the International Network of Liberal Women (INLW, President Khadija El Morabit) to realize world peace and the prosperity of humanity. Ruth Richardson, Secretary-General and Advisor of INLW, also visited Korea to participate in the IWPC with President Khadija El Morabit. INLW, founded in 1990 and headquartered in the Netherlands, is an international NGO that has been actively working for women’s empowerment and expansion of political participation based on liberal values. The two organizations agreed to closely cooperate in various fields including hosting peace forums, PLTE for local women and children, organizing activities to support and promote the international legal enactment of the DPCW, peace culture-and-arts related activities, human-rights-based peace plans, and campaigns for women’s active roles in peacebuilding.

After attending the IWPC in Cheongju, Global Region 1 (Regional Director Kang Yeonkyoung) signed MOUs on Sep 20 with three Indonesian NGOs: Balai Syura Ureung Inong Aceh (Presidium Amrina Habibi SH), Yayasan Lentera Habibi (Board of Directors Athaya Rumaisha), and Yayasan Lentera Kartini (Founder & Leader Forisni Aprilista Cik Olah). The agreement includes introducing mandatory PLTE courses in schools within Indonesia as a promise of cooperation to end war and make peace a way of life. Founder Forisni Aprilista Cik Olah proposed PLTE promotion activities in Sampit and said, “If the press supports us strongtly, peace activities are bound to spread throughout Indonesia.” Chairwoman Amrina Habibi promised to cooperates with community leaders and IWPG to develop PLTE curriculums that are effective on the ground. Board Member Tataya Rumaisya said, “We are in desparate need of instructor training. PLTE is not merely a theory, but should be practiced by schools and the community.
Indotren.com journalist Jace Montessori introduced experience covering the Poso conflict and proposed region-customized curricula for tolerance and conflict resolution, as well as traditional arts-and-culture festivals with peace themes. Major Indonesian media—tvOne, Suara Pembaruan, BTV, and Indotren.com—participated and actively reported messages of peace, contributing to building public consensus for spreading PLTE.

The Manila Branch in the Philippines (Branch Manager April Otadoy) attended the IWPC with a peace delegation of women leaders representing various regions and organizations, including Deputy Mayor Maria Teresa Royo-Timbol of Kapalong City, Deputy Mayor Elizabeth M. Tayuan of Mangudadatu, Deputy Governor Clarice Tan Juabhib of Davao del Norte, and Barangay Councilor Nerita S. Ybañez.
Deputy Mayor Timbol said, “I have continuously attended the IWPC for the past five years, and this year is especially meaningful as several women leaders joined. The beginning of raising peace activists is PLTE.” She is working to establish PLTE courses and enact ordinances to make peace education mandatory in schools. Deputy Mayor Tayuan expressed her aspiration “to legislate peace education and actively implement PLTE, and build a Peace Monument in Mangudadatu as a landmark like in Kapalong.” Deputy Governor Juabhib said, “I was deeply impressed by IWPG’s activities. Davao also wants to join the flow of peace as generational change is taking place,” expressing strong willingness to participate in peace projects. The women leaders who participated in the event are continuing practical cooperation with the goal of spreading peace in local communities and strengthening women’s leadership. They are preparing to establish PLTE courses in each region and institution, laying a practical foundation for the settlement of a culture of peace.

The Washington D.C. Branch (Branch Manager Chikodili Deborah Ekweozoh) had participants such as Kim Simplis Barrow, former First Lady of Belize and Representative of the Women Peace, Justice & Equality Foundation (WPJE); Karen Bevans, Director of WPJE; Zainab Al-Suwaij, Executive Director and Co-founder of the American Islamic Congress; and Gloria Ann Thomas, Minister of Social Community Development, Housing & Gender Affairs of Grenada. Former First Lady Barrow said, “I was surprised by the large scale and solid organizational system of IWPG. I experienced serious and meaningful peace discussion after a long time.” Director Bevans said, “At a certain moment, I realized that I myself became a messenger of peace,” expressing high expectations for future activities. She was “deeply impressed that the Peace Monument in Kapalong became a landmark of the city,” expressing hope to accomplish the same outcome in Belize.

Global Region 10 conducted a peace workshop on Sep 18 with two Mexican women peace leaders who attended the 11th Annual World Peace Summit. Karen Elizabeth Leon Romero, Representative of the Peace Committee of UNAM University, and Julieta Araceli Hernandez Gallardo, 대표 of HAPPEN and PLTE lecturer, participated. The workshop introduced agendas centered on the core activities of the women’s peace group so that participants could fully understand and practice them. Through the workshop, they discussed establishing specific and achievable peace activity plans to be implemented when they return to their home countries.
Julieta, who hopes to become a female governor in the near future, said, “After I return to my home country, I will organize a Peace Committee and become the Peace Committee Representative to actively conduct peace activities.” Karen, who began her activity as the Peace Committee Representative of UNAM University, said, “I will work hard to ensure that more women join as members.”

Global Region 3 held the International–Domestic Joint Peace Workshop on September 18. The workshop was prepared as a meaningful event for participants from each country to share experiences of peace activities and seek future directions of cooperation. Participants from youth, women, and leadership groups in various countries introduced their peace projects and cases of change in their local communities and shared conversations respecting each other’s cultures and perspectives. They shared the conviction that small actions in their respective places can lead to great changes and pledged to continue sustainable peace education and cooperation through IWPG’s global network.
The workshop was a place to encourage and inspire one another as “one peace community” connected by heart beyond borders, languages, and cultural differences. Participants strengthened their determination to spread peace awareness to the wider world and take action together so that the next generation can carry on peace.

Global Region 3 also signed an MOU on Sep 18 with the Bangladeshi human rights organization Pragroshor (Representative Fauzia Khondker) for the realization of peace. The agreement includes regular meetings and joint projects to revitalize peace projects in Bangladesh, promotion for recruiting PLTE trainees and expanding membership, support to connect schools for ILPAC preliminary rounds, cooperation in Bengali translation of PLTE content, providing local PLTE programs and lecturer support. and invitations to IWPG workshops and events. Regional Director Eun-ju Heo said, “Through this agreement, we can contribute more systematically to strengthening the peace capacity of local women and spreading a culture of peace,” and pledged to solidify the peace network in the South Asia region. Representative Khondker said, “Through cooperation with IWPG, we are confident that we can greatly contribute to improving peace awareness and expanding social participation of Bangladeshi women,” expressing her commitment to establish more effective PLTE programs by combining the expertise of both organizations.

Global Region 9 (Regional Director Im Misook) held a meeting on Sep 18 at Soopangol in Cheongju with IWPG Mongolian Peace Committee Representatives. About 50 people attended, including 26 Peace Committee members led by Baatar Punsaldulam and interpreters and protocol staff. The meeting was conducted with the goal of spreading a culture of peace and strengthening practical solidarity between Mongolia and Korea. In her opening remarks, Regional Director Im said, “I hope this time will be one to communicate and share our hearts for peace. Through this gathering, you will become seeds of peace that will spread peace throughout Mongolia.” The meeting began with the message “Peace begins with me,” and participants took time to answer three questions reflecting deeply on peace.

Global Region 5 (Regional Director Park Sujin) signed an MOU in Cheongju during the IWPC period with Vivek College of Commerce in Mumbai, India. The two organizations will jointly operate PLTE, hold regular peace lectures, and exchange programs connecting peace culture with arts. Dean Vijeta Shetty said, “Women’s peace leadership is important in the present era where conflict and division are intensifying,” expressing commitment to educating next-generation women leaders. Regional Director Park Sujin said, “This agreement is a meaningful starting point in realizing the theme of the Conference in the field of education,” and promised to build a sustainable peace foundation through women’s solidarity that crosses national borders.

In the Middle East region, the 3rd Middle East PLTE Completion Ceremony was held on Sep 6, hosted by Global Region 2. About 60 women from the Middle East region including Yemen and Lebanon completed the course, and more than 100 people including members attended online and sent warm congratulations.
Al Akori, Representative of the Yemeni women’s media platform Women’s Voices for Peace, said, “This education is a pioneering journey to establish a generation that respects dialogue, tolerance, and justice,” and expressed hope that “the graduates will inspire women and youth as ambassadors of peace.” At the ceremony, the Outstanding Peace Education Award was presented, and 14 women including Riam Najib Esmail Sulaiman, CEO of 유년 시절의 멜로디, from Yemen; Sahar Naboush, teacher and volunteer of 나스마 & 바스카 from Lebanon; and Hiba Ratel (Manager of 러닝랜드 센터) were honored. Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Hiba Ratel said, “Peace does not begin only in conference halls or speeches, but in small practices such as listening to each other, forgiving, and raising children with respect. We are not a generation that waits for peace but one that creates peace ourselves,” receiving loud applause. Global Region 2 is expanding participation of women in the Middle East region by opening the 4th Middle East PLTE class at the end of September, and aims to further strengthen the women peace network through MOUs with local NGOs participating in the education.

In Cameroon, online PLTE was conducted from Sep 1 to 5 for six participants. All participants are female teachers currently teaching children in actual schools, and each expressed that through this education, they “broadened their understanding of war and peace, realized the value of peace that starts from oneself, and gained a sense of mission to spread a culture of peace.” Participants also responded positively, saying, “We realized the value of PLTE and the various peace activities of IWPG, and felt it was beneficial.”

To commemorate the International Day of Peace, a peace talk seminar was held on Sep 18 at Presbyterian Church Bastos by the Yaounde Peace Commitee Representative. A total of 150 people attended. The event included an opening address by Yaounde Peace Commitee member Margaret Bechem Bechem, CEO of Women in Development for Change, WID4C; an introduction to IWPG, introduction of the four peace virtues of global citizens—respect, inclusion, justice, and responsibility—and an introduction of the DPCW, followed by a Q&A session. Peace Committee Representative Margaret Bechem Bechem said, “We are grateful to IWPG for cooperating so that we can practice peace together and widely spread the thread of peace, and when we are together, we become stronger.”

In Mexico, Global Region 10 opened PLTE on Sep 23 at Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (UJAT) with about 70 participants. During the orientation prior to opening, Dean Luis Manuel read remarks on behalf of University President Guillermo Narváez Osorio, emphasizing the importance of the program. He conveyed that the women’s peace lectures serve as a starting point in realizing peace policies in the Tabasco region and at the national level in Mexico. In particular, he stated that “UJAT’s Peace Culture Institutionalization Plan (Plan Institutional de Cultura de Paz) shows that IWPG’s PLTE is not simply opening a program but opening hope, and that hope is woven in the stories, races, and struggles of those who believe in peace, and peace is not a utopia but a task that must be practiced every day.” Three speakers including Professor Ivonne Adrianna Gaytan Bertruy; Paola Gutierrez Garcia, Head of Social and Human Sciences Department at UJAT; and Felipe Sánchez Arias, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, delivered congratulatory speeches. Regional Director Kim Hwajeong said, “We are planning to attend the local completion ceremony in November when the program is completed, and will strive to ensure that IWPG’s PLTE continues to spread at UJAT in Mexico.”

Global Region 3 conducted the 4th Peace Workshop at Air Force Shaheen English Medium School in Bangladesh through Dhaka Peace Committee Representative Jesmin Akter and PLTE graduate Afia Afrida. It was a meaningful time for the students to directly experience and reflect on the value of peace in their lives. Participants stated, “Peace does not simply mean stopping war, but starts from kindness, tolerance, and respecting one another,” and expressed that they “felt that even a small action can bring positive change to the community.”

Through activities such as the “Deserted Island Game” and “Seasons of Life,” they said, “We realized the importance of sharing and cooperation instead of selfishness, and we began to practice peace in family, school, and among friends.” The teachers who participated also evaluated positively, saying, “This program brought deep awareness changes to students in the educational field,” and highly regarded the meaning of PLTE combining arts and education.

In Romania, PLTE lecturer Liliana Lupu, who works as a teacher at Anastasia Popescu Pedagogical Highschool, recruited five trainees and completed six PLTE sessions starting Sep 12. The trainees are the first group of PLTE lecturers in Romania and participated actively with the desire to become lecturers who deliver the PLTE they received to Romanian women. After completion, they pledged to become the first seeds to spread IWPG’s peace message widely and successfully carry out the mission of changing lives for new generations.

Hello, my name is Punsaldulam. I live in Erdenet City, Orkhon Province, Mongolia, and I am very pleased to take this interview. I am a PLTE lecturer and advisory teacher, and I am serving as the Peace Committee Representative of the Orkhon Peace Committee.

In 2023, we launched the Peace Committee in Orkhon Province and, in celebration of the IWPG-proclaimed “426 International Women’s Peace Day,” we had more than 50 women participate in PLTE. Through this, we took the first step in peace activities in the Orkhon region. Also in 2023, we created the first IWPG Peace Garden in Mongolia, and I personally led and successfully completed the entire process of establishing the IWPG Peace Monument and Peace Garden by traveling from Erdenet City to Ulaanbaatar.

According to Mongolian tradition, mothers are responsible for the education of children at home. Mothers and grandmothers in Mongolia have great interest in their children’s education, and schools provide scientific knowledge and general education. However, IWPG’s peace education does not stop there, but has great meaning in instilling “education of the heart” to children—loving and respecting one another, cultivating peaceful and gentle hearts, and learning values of caring for others.

To practice peace education, I have students participate in physical, cultural, and artistic activities, have conversations with them, and guide them to learn inner peace through ILPAC hosted by IWPG every year. Whenever I see children participating in the competition, I feel great emotion and joy. Especially, our Committee managed to hold the first offline ILPAC in a local region in Mongolia, through which we were able to spread a culture of peace to many children.

Through faithfully performing Peace Committee Representative activities, I realized that it is necessary to involve many women and youth and plant the seeds of love and peace in their hearts. Therefore, I will do my best to provide peace education to the women and children in my region and plant the seeds of peace, making all activities promoted by IWPG my goal. Peace begins with me. We Are One!