A peace forum in Chungju brought together participants to reflect on a year of peacebuilding in everyday life and consider how to carry that work forward in the year ahead.

On September 19, Global Region 6 of the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) hosted the “2026 Global Region 6 Peace Forum” at the International Conference Hall of the UNESCO International Martial Arts Center in Chungju, South Korea. Held under the theme “Everyday Peace, Our Next Year,” the forum brought together around 100 guests and members from Korea and abroad.

Participants reflected on the lessons and insights they had gained at the “2026 International Women’s Peace Conference,” held from September 16 to 18, and discussed how to put them into practice in their own communities over the coming year.

The program opened with remarks by Park So-young, Regional Director of IWPG Global Region 6, followed by congratulatory remarks from Steve, Vice Minister of South Africa’s Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. A cultural performance celebrating Korean traditions and conveying messages of peace and harmony followed.

Looking Back to Take the Next Step

A special PLACE archival video offered a look back at peacebuilding activities carried out over the past year. Through moments drawn from everyday life, the video showed how peace can take shape through small, practical actions. It closed with a message about the power of women working together to build peace, inviting viewers to consider what they could do next.

The forum then moved to a series of presentations under the theme “My Realizations and Commitment to Practicing Peace.” Eight speakers shared what they had learned, the experiences that had stayed with them, and the steps they planned to take in the future.

Among the speakers were Ms. Mampurane Caron Kgomo, Deputy Director of Gender and Diversity Management at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO); Prof. Erinma Bell (MBE, DL), Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and Chair of the Manchester Peace Committee in the UK; Cho Bo-young, Chairperson of the Chungju & Eumseong Crime Victim Support Center; Chimere Bell, Co-Founder of Girls Code in the UK; and Tania Oldjohn, Councillor and Advisor to the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Cho Bo-young reflected on the connection between valuing human life and building peace.

“This gathering reaffirmed my belief that peace begins when one person values their own life and the lives of others,” she said. “I will continue learning through women’s peace education and share what I learn with crime victims and their families, as well as children and older adults in our community.”

Responsible AI, Women’s Leadership and Practical Peacebuilding

The presentations explored the responsibilities and cooperation needed to make peace part of everyday life.

Ms. Mampurane Caron Kgomo emphasized the importance of responsible AI, human-centered empathy, and dialogue, rather than technologies that fuel conflict. She said she would work to translate the forum’s recommendations into policies and action plans, helping build a lasting legacy of peace.

Prof. Erinma Bell highlighted the need for cooperation among governments, civil society, schools, NGOs, and other stakeholders to build peaceful communities. She stressed that women’s participation must lead to meaningful leadership and said she would continue supporting peace initiatives that address challenges women face in their daily lives, including through nonviolent communication and conflict resolution.

Tania Oldjohn spoke about the denial of educational rights to women in Afghanistan and gang violence in South Africa, underscoring the urgent need for peace. She emphasized that women must have a voice in decision-making rather than remain on the sidelines as participants.

An IWPG representative said, “Peace is not a grand declaration; it begins with a small act of consideration we offer today.” The representative added, “I hope the insights and commitments shared here will take root in each person’s daily life, and that these individual steps will come together to create a wave of peace that changes the world.”

The forum connected reflections on the past year with plans for the next. Participants left with commitments they could carry into their own communities and everyday lives, turning what they had learned into action for peace in the year ahead.