IWPG Global Region 5 participated in the UN CSW and exchanged views with international women leaders, including the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone.
Exploring cooperation strategies for peace, gender equality, and global women’s solidarity.
Sujin Park, Regional Director of Global Region 5, International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), announced on the 4th that they participated in the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The CSW is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), where governments from around the world, along with relevant international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), gather at the UN Headquarters every March to share policy practices for enhancing women’s empowerment and advancing their rights. They also explore effective ways to implement gender equality policies.
This year’s 68th session focused on the theme of ‘Accelerating the empowerment of all women and girls through gender-responsive approaches to ending poverty, strengthening institutions, and financing.’
At this CSW, Sujin Park, Regional Director of Global Region 5, met with H.E Isata Mahoi, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone. The two women leaders engaged in deep discussions about IWPG’s ‘Women’s Peace Education,’ which nurtures leaders for global peace, and the ‘Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW),’ the key to realizing peace.
H.E Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone, pledged to convey the importance of the DPCW to many leaders in Sierra Leone, including future presidents, stating, ‘I sympathize with the need for peace and will continue to cooperate with IWPG’s peace activities.’
Additionally, a meeting was held with Aruna Naik, CEO of the India Development Foundation (IDF). During the meeting, IWPG introduced the ‘6th Annual Peace and Love Drawing Competition,’ held annually. Showing a keen interest in IWPG’s peace activities for global peace-building, she expressed her intention to join voluntarily as a member.
Aruna Naik, CEO of IDF, delivered a presentation on peace and gender equality during the NGO Forum hosted by IWPG at the CSW. She emphasized, “Peace means reconciliation without conflict. We are all one in peace, and through global women’s solidarity for peace, we can alleviate gender inequality.”
Sujin Park, Regional Director of Global Region 5, expressed her pride and honor in confirming IWPG’s status as an international organization, stating, “It was a motivating time for growth as an international activist.” She shared her thoughts on attending the CSW.
Meanwhile, IWPG is an international women’s NGO registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC). Based in Seoul, South Korea, it operates with 114 branches in 121 countries, collaborating with over 660 partner organizations worldwide to engage in active peace activities. IWPG actively works towards achieving a sustainable world peace, advocating for solidarity, a culture of peace, women’s peace education, and legal and institutional frameworks.