International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) appointed Na Yeong Jeon as its new chairwoman. In August, IWPG prepared for the 2025 International Women’s Peace Conference (IWPC) and conducted Peace Leadership Training & Education (PLTE) to nurture female peace leaders all around the world. Other activities included signing MOU/As for peace; advocacy for the legislation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW); civil society partnerships; and dissemination of a culture of peace.

PLTE (Peace Leadership Training & Education), IWPG’s women peace education program, is taking place simultaneously in 5 countries around the world. The first women’s peace education instructor was produced in Romania, along with the training successfully taking place in Nigeria, Kenya, Czech, and South America.

Global Region 1 (Regional Director Kang Yeong-kyung) held the Completion Ceremony for Peace Leadership Training & Education (PLTE) – General Course class 25-2-2 online on Aug 30 with 30 graduates.
The education, having started on June 21 over the course of 8 sessions, divided the students into 2 teams: Kids and Teens Resource Center team and Margaret team. The education was led by Chikodili Deborah Ekweozoh, the manager of IWPG Washington D.C. branch.
Executive Director Bamigboye Folashade said, “I learned that peace spreads from the individual to the family and community. I will apply the knowledge and skills I have acquired from this training to become an active agent of peace.”
Omgbu Odiri Obukowho Margaret, Margaret team leader, said, “I learned that peace is a state of communication, respect, and harmony. Now, we are just graduates of this course, but we are at a new start of family building peace.” All of the graduates emphasized the importance of peace and their individual transformation through PLTE.

On Aug 28, the IWPG Prague team in the Czech Republic held the online PLTE Completion Ceremony, “Women in Harmony.”
12 women participated and completed all 8 lessons, and 2 of them will work as women’s peace education instructors.
During the completion ceremony, the graduates announced their own individual peace pledges to reaffirm their commitment for peace. Olha Kovtun, one of the graduates, said, “Small actions create big change,” urging peace actions in our daily lives.

On Aug 30, Global Region 2 (Regional Director Seo Yeon Lee) held the 4th PLTE orientation for South America.
60 students joined the orientation, where the purpose and the curriculum of PLTE was shared. The students strongly agreed to the theme of the education that focuses on the role of women.
Idalba, one of the participants, said, “It was moving that in PLTE women are perceived of as special beings. I look forward to the education.” Another participant, Elias Henoch Cuellar, said, “The curriculum was very practical and clear. The seed of peace will be planted in our hearts to bear the fruit of peace. I hope this seed spreads to the local community and all around the country.”
Through this 4th PLTE class of Colombia, IWPG plans to nurture more women peace leaders in South America.

Cameroon actively engaged in peace activities in August. The Simbok Peace Committee held a meeting at Simbock-Mendong Presbyterian church on Aug 7. With a total of 85 participants, 6 people newly registered as IWPG members, and Etaka Eyong Elsie, the Peace Committee Representative and monitoring and evaluation office, introduced IWPG and the DPCW.
Adaibum Brither Endah, IWPG Peace Committee member and committee member of Christian Women Fellowship, said, “Most of the participating women showed great interest in PLTE. They asked for further details on the education.”

Also, Yaounde Peace Committee hosted a Peace Talk Seminar at a cultural heritage festival at Manyu division on Aug 1 and gathered 132 people. Margaret Bechem Bechem, a member of Yaounde Peace Committee and CEO of Women in Development for Change (WID4C), said, “Peace requires change, and this partnership between WID4C and IWPG is an important step to bring the transformation we desire.”

On Aug 18, Global Region 4 signed an MOU with Centre for Youth and Family Empowerment (CEYOFE), an NGO for the empowerment of youth and women in Cameroon. Dopgima Stella Guelleu epse Eteki Njoh, head of the center, said, “We can do much more when we are together. This MOU will reach the lives of many and contribute greatly to world peace and development. I hope this becomes the start of a fruitful journey.”

Global Region 5 held a series of meetings with major education institutions and civil society leaders in Mumbai, India, and discussed cooperation for the 2025 International Women’s Peace Art Competition. Dr. Seema Anil Negi, Director Principal of Sanjeevani World School, promised to open PLTE, while Dr. Dr. Vijetha Shetty of Vivek College of Commerce took the first steps of collaboration with IWPG by exchanging ideas on the MOU draft.
Vivek College of Commerce, founder of the Sky Explorers, after IWPG left a strong impression at the CSW in New York, proposed various cooperative projects, such as participation in the peace event in Korea and hosting a peace forum in India. Regional Director Su-Jin Park said, “We will officialize the partnership with these institutions and develop the relationship into sustainable peace initiatives.”

On Aug 13, Global Region 3 signed a peace MOU online with Edge & Essence, an Indian lifestyle magazine. The two organizations committed to a long-lasting partnership including coverage of peace campaigns, creation of content related to women such as female leader interviews, social media promotion, usage of logos, ad co-planning events.

Global Region 3 successfully conducted a peace education program at a high school in the Chennai region of India.
Global Region 3 announced that on Aug 21 (and Aug 19, 2025), they held the second session of the 7-session continuous program, “Rainbow of Peace,” at AIWC High School in Chinthadripet, Chennai, India.
The session was led by resource persons Nivedhita and Gajalakshmi, who engaged in an in-depth dialogue with the students about the proper consumption of digital content and the cultivation of inner peace. Through visual aids and interactive discussions, students were able to reflect on their digital habits and emotional well-being. The event concluded with a peace pledge and a candlelight ceremony, symbolizing a commitment to inner peace and the spread of peace in society.
Kannaki, the AIWC High School Traffic-in-charge and IWPG member, Principal Merlin, and members of the Sanju Women’s Welfare Assn. also attended, adding significance to the event.
This program highlights the importance of peace education for the younger generation and is evaluated as presenting a new model for teaching peace values suitable for the digital age.

On Aug 2, the Rotterdam branch of Netherlands conducted its regular promotion activities at Lijnbaan Street at the center of Rotterdam. The staff handed out flyers to people and explained IWPG’s vision and main initiatives, including international solidarity for world peace and cessation of war, female network of peace, peace education, and various local community activities. Many people understood IWPG’s intention and voluntarily registered as IWPG members.

On Aug 20, the Berlin branch of Germany (Branch Manager Yingyan Cao) participated in a summer event for refugee children in the Aldershof region to support children’s activities. IWPG opened an origami and drawing booth to continue on with the relationship established during the International Loving-Peace Art Competition (ILPAC) last year. IWPG also introduced itself to Ms. Maaß, the new representative, and proposed various support activities for women and children.

On Aug 30, the IWPG Prague team of the Czech Republic participated as a supporting organization of the commemoration event of Kyrgyzstan Independence Day. The event showcased traditional music and dance performances and various traditional culture activities. The Peace Flower program helped people understand the meaning of peace.

Global Region 12 discussed cooperation methods for women’s peace education with the Green Belt Movement, a prominent environmental organization in Kenya.
Global Region 12 recently met with Wanjira Mathai, Green Belt Movement former chair, who is leading global environmental and women’s rights activities primarily in Kenya. They introduced the PLTE and discussed potential cooperation. Both sides exchanged views on the operational methods and scale of participation for women’s peace education suitable for the local situation in Kenya.

On Aug 9, IWPG Manila branch (Branch Manager April Otadoy) participated in the 3rd National Peace Convention held in Quezon city. Held under the theme, “Peace and Culture in Action: Uniting for Peace and Fulfilling Humanity’s Duty Together,” the event invited female leaders from all over the country, including Maria Theresa R. Timbol Kapalong, vice mayor of Kapalong, Davao del Norte; Stephanie Wong, vice mayor of Muntinlupa; and Hinigaran mayor Mary Grace Arceo of Negros Occidental.
Vice Mayor Maria Timbol said, “IWPG is not just an organization where women dream of peace but where women actually act. Kapalong is running local Peace Committees, PLTE, and training programs from women and youth leaders, while supporting the DPCW and calling for active participation from women’s organizations and local governments.”

The Jakarta branch of Indonesia (Branch Manager Ana Milana Puspita Sari) promoted the World Peace Summit that will be hosted in Korea from Sep 18 to 20 to NGOs, female leaders, and press in Indonesia. tvOne and Berita Satu TV, Indonesia’s major media channels, decided to livestream this year’s World Peace Summit, and Jakarta branch shared the event schedule with Reyhana Meiziyyah, tvOne reporter, and Marlyn Silaen, BTV producer.
Branch Manager Ana said, “This event is for leaders, NGOs, and press from all around the world to call for peace and cessation of war. It especially focuses on the participation of women and institutionalization of peace.” Jakarta branch explored ways to reach out to more female leaders to introduce IWPG and find avenues of cooperation, and many people signed up for PLTE after the introductory session.

There were also active activities in Korea. Global Region 6 Chuncheon branch (Branch Manager Park Mi In) held the Peace Empathy Campaign at Chuncheon Pungmul Market on Aug 27. The peace message roulette event was the most popular, where the public could naturally recall the meaning of peace through phrases like “Let’s smile together” or “Peace begins with me.”

On Aug 21, IWPG Sokcho branch (Branch Manager Yoon Su Ki) signed an MOU with Sokcho Regional Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps (Head Seong-man Jeon) for disaster prevention and response and peace culture at the Corp’s office. The two organizations will cooperate to improve the disaster response capacity of the region and raise awareness on peace and safety by conducing training, strengthening the local safety network, co-planning peace/human rights campaigns, and participating in society outreach activities or humanitarian aid.

IWPG Paju branch (Branch Manager Choi Jae-soon) held the International Women’s Peace Network Regular Meeting at Paju Ballang-ri Gwantan-myeon Taegeukgi Village on Aug 20. Nam Sang-cheol, head of Independence Movement Merit Memorial Association, gave a speech on “The Value of Independence and Future Challenges.” The participants had a meaningful time participating in various activities such as peace message recitals and peace quizzes.

On Aug 30, the IWPG Tokyo branch of Japan held the International Women’s Peace Network Regular Meeting with 17 people at the house of Peace Committee Representative Ootawara Masako in an online/offline hybrid format. Nakanoen Haruna, a certified psychiatrist, spoke on the theme, “Peace starting from our families” and gave advice to people struggling with child rearing and relationships at work or in the family.

On Aug 6, Global Region 10 had an online meeting with Professor Ivonne Adrianna Gaytan Bertruy, Division Academica De Ciencias Sociales Y Humanidades of Universidad Juarez Autonoma De Tabasco, to discuss peace culture dissemination within the Mexican region. Professor Ivonne said that she is committed to spreading PLTE in Mexico after participating in the 7th Women Leaders’ Peace Conference held in July. She promised to teach PLTE to the female students at her school, Universidad Juarez Autonoma De Tabasco, in September.

On Aug 23, Global Region 10 held the overseas Peace Committee Representative meeting online. Eight Peace Committee Representatives actively working in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Japan, and Mexico participated, including Neha Tripathi from New Delhi, India, the first overseas Peace Committee representative to be appointed after the COVID-19 pandemic. Global Region 10 agreed to collect good cases of overseas Peace Committee member recruitment activities and bestow awards at the Global Region 10 PLTE Completion Ceremony to be held in December.

On Aug 20, Global Region 2 held the 7th ILPAC Preliminary Award Ceremony at the main campus of St. Dominic Savio in Tanzania. With 1,000 students and 30 teachers present, Mknibwa Ngoboka, Assistant Professof of Ruaha Catholic University, presented the awards.
For the Middle School division, the 1st place went to Martha Jonas Masingija (Cagliero Girls Secondary School), the 2nd place to Epiphania Emmanuel Mapunda (Cagliero Girls Secondary School), and the 3rd place to Lulu Julius Mwezi (Cagliero Girls Secondary School). For the Elementary School division, the 1st place went to Maureen Charles Mengo (St. Dominic Savio Primary School). The Special Award went to Linda Bahati Mangasini (Cagliero Girls Secondary School.

On Aug 27, Global Region 2 discussed the World Peace Summit, starting on Sep 18, with Fanny Melina Gutiérrez Garzón, Operations Manager of Chamber of Commerce of Bogota, Colombia. Fanny Melina said, “I am deeply grateful to be invited to the Sep 19 World Peace Summit. I wish to contribute to international peace talks based on my experience in social unity and women policies. During the World Peace Summit, I also plan to discuss in detail the establishment of a Peace Monument and peace summit in Colombia.”

My journey with INLW began during a transformative period in Morocco, where I was deeply involved in a liberal political party committed to promoting gender equality. The 2011 constitutional reforms introduced significant legal progress for gender equality, particularly through Article 19, which enshrines equal enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights for men and women, opening new opportunities for women, while the Arab Spring revealed a united desire for broader societal change. I witnessed firsthand the urgent need for women to have a seat at the decision-making table, especially given the turmoil at that time in the MENA region, where women and girls were often the most vulnerable.
They were disproportionately affected by violence, human trafficking, conflict, and instability. Even today, women in many regions of the world remain victims of sexual violence by armed groups, are forced into roles such as human bombs by terrorist organizations, suffer from climate migration, fall prey to transnational criminal networks, or remain detained in militarized refugee camps in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
In 2012, I was elected Vice President of INLW for the MENA region at the General Assembly in Côte d’Ivoire. This role allowed me to channel my advocacy into tangible action, focusing on women’s economic empowerment, political participation, and increasing women’s presence in decision-making positions. At the time, I was nominated by my liberal political party, reflecting INLW’s commitment to bringing together women leaders from around the world who share liberal values, whether from liberal political organizations or NGOs, or individual liberal women.
I believe that true change can only come when women have equal access to resources, opportunities, and political power. Empowering women economically and politically is not only a matter of justice but also a critical foundation for regional stability and peace. Through INLW, I have had the privilege of working on initiatives that foster leadership development for women and advocate for policies ensuring that women’s voices are heard in every sphere of life from local governance to international diplomacy.
Today, as the International President of INLW, I am dedicated to advancing our mission to promote education for girls and women, foster peace, combat violence, and fight all forms of discrimination against them. Women must play a central role in shaping policies that affect their lives.

Women can bring profound and lasting transformations to society. From my experience as an entrepreneur running several businesses, serving as former Regional President of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Morocco, and founding a regional women’s economic incubator as well as through my work as a politician, I can firmly attest that women’s participation in political and economic spheres generates deep change.
Women bring inclusive, community-centered perspectives essential for creating solutions addressing the needs of all members of society. Economically, women foster sustainable growth and help build resilient, diversified economies. Many women establish businesses that focus not just on profit, but also on social impact, contributing to long-term social cohesion and reducing inequalities and poverty.
Politically, women introduce policies focused on justice, social welfare, education, and healthcare, critical for building peaceful and equitable societies. In my work with INLW and as a political leader, I have witnessed how women’s leadership results in more equitable laws and sustainable development strategies.
Women are adept at bringing grassroots concerns to the forefront, ensuring policies reflect real community needs rather than being imposed top-down. They have the ability to bridge divides, foster collaboration, dialogue, and social harmony, especially in regions affected by instability or conflict. One powerful moment of solidarity I experienced with INLW occurred during the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2024.
INLW issued a strong statement calling for the release of women freedom fighters and activists in Cambodia and condemned human rights violations against displaced women refugees in Tindouf Camps. Standing together with organizations worldwide, we called for immediate action to protect these women and ensure their dignity and safety. This experience reinforced my belief in amplifying women’s voices globally. As we say in French, “L’union fait la force”: “unity makes strength”, united, we stand, divided, we fall.

My work with INLW, UN CSW, and global networks has allowed me to connect with women leaders across regions, creating platforms for dialogue and collaboration on peace and human rights. The upcoming MOU signing with IWPG at the Women’s International Peace Summit in South Korea marks a pivotal step in our shared commitment to peace, education, and gender equality advocacy.
I envision this partnership driving joint peace programs that empower women as central figures in peacebuilding while amplifying their voices globally. Together, INLW and IWPG can leverage our combined strength to create lasting change and ensure women’s active role in shaping peaceful societies worldwide.
In modern society, women’s role is extremely important. Many young women today wish to participate in society, protect themselves from social media violence, and pursue education. However, in some regions, they face barriers to full participation. I want them to be self-confident and believe that their voices matter. Real change happens when women support one another across borders. Women should be role models, mentors, and visible in the media.
Leadership in patriarchal societies is challenging, and women often need to work harder than men to demonstrate their capabilities and competencies. Supporting one another is essential; lifting each other creates more leaders, not followers. Youth must also have a seat at the decision-making table. As Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”, Leadership is earned through courage, persistence, and action.
At INLW, we empower women by passing opportunities to younger members, so women help build the next generation of leaders and drive systemic change for gender equality, building diverse teams, and valuing collective contributions. Peace is not sustainable without dialogue and inclusion. Women shape future generations, they educate children, guide families, and stabilize communities. Without women’s empowerment, children remain vulnerable to violence, conflicts, terrorism, and different sorts of exploitation.
Digital education is another key priority. At INLW Morocco Chapter, we are working on a new project to empower girls digitally because true empowerment cannot happen without it. Digital violence against girls and women is widespread. Many girls, particularly in Africa, lack access to phones, computers, and basic digital literacy. Workshops to raise awareness and provide digital tools are essential. Economic empowerment is also critical, financial independence through bank accounts and mobile banking reduces violence and dependency. Teaching women to save and manage money strengthens personal safety, autonomy, and peace.
Looking ahead, I am excited for INLW and IWPG collaboration to see women bring concrete and lasting changes in global communities. Beyond programs, this event provides a platform to unite female leaders worldwide, exchange ideas, and foster global solidarity in peace, education, and empowerment.
Peace begins at home, expands to communities, and ultimately creates a world where justice, equality, and dialogue prevail. Women’s leadership, education, and empowerment are key to a sustainable and peaceful future.