Nobel Women’s Initiative, Women Cross DMZ, WomenPeaceKorea, et al. – 2018-01-13 01:21:15
https://nobelwomensinitiative.org
ACTION ALERT: Vancouver Women’s Forum on
Peace and Stability on the Korean Peninsula
Nobel Women’s Initiative
Women Cross DMZ international coordinator and founder Christine Ahn and standing committee member Hye-Jung Park articulate why it is so important for women to be included in the Korean peace talks.
(January 12, 2018) — On January 16, 2018 Foreign Ministers from 20 nations will gather in Vancouver to discuss security and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Women must be at the table! An international delegation of 16 woman leaders representing peace, environment, women’s and social justice movements from across Asia, Europe and North America is ready to participate in the discussions.
Research clearly shows that the participation of women’s movements in peace processes leads to far better outcomes — and the WomenCrossDMZ coalition is ready to contribute to a diplomatic process that leads to peace, reconciliation, and genuine security for the Korean Peninsula! #WomenPeaceKorea
Our full update is here and from Women Cross DMZ here.
Thank you so much for your support!
Attend the Events in Vancouver
Click here for more details on the three events.
Candlelight Vigil for Peace
7:00 – 8:00PM | Monday, January 15, 2018
Witness for Peace
8:00 – 9:30 AM | Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Vancouver Women’s Forum for Peace and Security on the Korean Peninsula:
“From Crisis to Opportunity”
2:00 – 5:00PM | Tuesday, January16, 2018
VANCOUVER WOMEN’S FORUM ON PEACE
AND SECURITY ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA
Nobel Womens’ Initiative
(January 10, 2018) — On January 16, 2018, as Foreign Ministers from twenty nations gather in Vancouver to discuss security and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Women Cross DMZ is co-leading an international delegation of sixteen women representing feminist peace movements from Asia, Europe and North America to convene in Vancouver to ensure that civil-society perspectives are included in the official talks.
We are organizing three public events in Vancouver on January 15th and 16th: A Candlelight Vigil on the eve of the Foreign Ministers Summit, a Witness for Peace on the morning of the Summit, and a public educational forum during the official talks.
This women’s peace delegation is being led by five organizations: Women Cross DMZ, The Nobel Women’s Initiative, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, United Church of Canada, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).
Our objective is to urge the Foreign Ministers to prepare the table for a diplomatic peace process that moves away from war and increased militarization, and towards peace, reconciliation, and genuine security.
Through the Vancouver Women’s Forum and other actions, the women delegates will remind government leaders of overwhelming global public opinion that favors a peaceful diplomatic resolution as the only option on the table for resolving the Korean crisis. The outcome of the official summit must support the recent breakthroughs in inter-Korean rapprochement, not derail it.
Our arrival into Vancouver for the Korea Summit falls on the heels of Canada’s just launched National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. This Summit gives Canada an ideal opportunity to put its newly enacted Feminist Foreign Policy into action by heeding the counsel of the women’s peace delegation and including them in the official discussions, as endorsed by 217 civil-society organizations from all over the world.
Recognizing the dangerous yet incredibly opportune moment that the Vancouver Summit affords, our women’s peace delegation will work to share with the foreign ministers our expertise in nuclear disarmament, economic sanctions, conflict mediation, military operations and humanitarian aid. Unlike most of the invited foreign ministers, many on our delegation have deep knowledge and key insights from engaging directly with North Koreans on peace and humanitarian aid initiatives.
We look forward to sharing with government officials our recommendations to ensure lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula that addresses the human, social and ecological costs of the unresolved Korean War.
Please share with your friends what we are doing in Vancouver and encourage them to join our efforts to ensure that women’s peace movements have a seat at the table at the Vancouver Summit on Korea.
For more information, visit www.womencross
In peace and friendship,
Christine Ahn, International Coordinator, Women Cross DMZ
Letter Signed by 216 Civil Society Organizations from 47 Countries Calls for Women’s Participation in Korea Debate
Nobel Women’s Initiative
(January 12, 2018) — We so appreciate your support to urge Foreign Ministers to prepare the table for peace on the Korean Peninsula and include feminist women’s movements in peace talks!
Nobel Women’s Initiative is en route to Vancouver with a delegation of 16 woman experts representing feminist peace movements from around the world. The Foreign Ministers are meeting on January 16th to discuss security and stability in the Korean Peninsula.
With your help the coalition has delivered a letter signed by 216 civil society organizations from 47 countries to the Foreign Ministers invited to attend the Vancouver meetings. As the dialogue begins, the delegation will stand as a Witness for Peace as we wait to see if that message was heard.
With Women Cross DMZ, VOW, UCC, and WILPF we are co-hosting three events urging a comprehensive peaceful resolution to the longstanding conflict through diplomacy and dialogue — and reminding the Foreign Ministers that working with women’s movements is essential for lasting diplomatic solutions.
We would be incredibly grateful if you continue to support this initiative by amplifying our message on social media!
1) Tweet at your Foreign Minister
@ForeignMinister Support inclusion of women’s coalition in discussions on Korean Peninsula peace & security at Vancouver Summit Jan 16! #WomenKoreaPeace
Info: http://ht.ly/GF7W30hGd0U
2) Join our Thunderclap
Send a message of peace and solidarity, and urge the Foreign Ministers to include women in the talks! Click here to join. Our messages will ring across Twitter just as the women gather outside the opening of the summit to Witness for Peace.
3) Share a tweet or Facebook post with our graphic (attached)
Sample tweets:
Research shows including women in peace process not only improves chance of reaching agreements, but also more durable ones. 16 women repping peace movements from around world, led by @WomenCrossDMZ, are pushing for the opportunity at Ministerial meeting on Korea in Vancouver! #WomenPeaceKorea
Women’s Statement to the Ministers
January 4, 2018
Dear Ministers:
Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada
Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State, United States
Angelino Alfano, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy
Julie Bishop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Australia
Mevlüt Cavusoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Turkey
Alan Peter Cayetano, The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Philippines
MarÃa Angela Holguin Cuellar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Colombia
Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, France
Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, United Kingdom
Kyung-hwa Kang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea
Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan
Nikos Kotzias, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greece
Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations & Cooperation, South Africa
Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, New Zealand
Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand
Didier Reynders, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, Belgium
Anders Samuelsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
Marie Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Smt. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister, India
Margot Wallström, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sweden
Halbe Zijlstra, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands
Warm greetings and Happy New Year from peacemakers from around the world. We write to you as representatives of civil society organizations working on a broad range of issues, including peace, social justice, human rights, environment, and women’s rights.
We are writing to respectfully request your facilitation of 17 women peacemakers’ participation at the January 16, 2018 Ministerial Meeting on the Korean conflict held in Vancouver, Canada.
Many of these women peacemakers represent civil society organizations from countries that fought in the Korean War; they have a responsibility and moral duty to help their governments formally end the 65-year old war diplomatically and peacefully.
The delegation of 17 women peacemakers gathered by Women Cross DMZ, Nobel Women’s Initiative, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, United Church of Canada, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) represent the best of civil society with their broad and diverse expertise, which will be invaluable towards understanding and resolving the longstanding Korean conflict. Their collective wisdom and experience includes conflict resolution, mediation, disarmament, nuclear policy, environment, military operations, humanitarian aid, human rights, international legal frameworks, and economic development.
To ensure that the only option that is advanced to address the dangerous escalation on the Korean Peninsula in Vancouver is a diplomatic one, we believe the active and meaningful participation of women peacemakers is critical.
Why should women peacemakers be at the table in Vancouver? For one, your governments are obligated to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which was unanimously adopted by the UNSC on October 31, 2000. UNSCR 1325 recognizes the important role that women play in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peace building.
In fact, many of your countries have developed National Action Plans to implement the resolution’s objectives. By integrating women peacemakers at the meeting in Vancouver to address the most challenging, hard security crisis facing our world today, we believe we can contribute towards finding a diplomatic resolution.
In addition to your governments’ commitment to uphold the spirit of UNSCR 1325, we also know from conflicts around the world that new initiatives require women’s ideas because we bring a different perspective to resolving conflict and to building peace. Women deepen the discussion on peace and security beyond the interests of combating parties and are able to energize community buy-in when an agreement is reached. Research shows that women’s inclusion in peace processes not only yields actual peace agreements, but also more durable ones.
In a major study spanning three decades of 40 peace processes, of 182 signed peace accords, an agreement was reached in all but one case when women’s groups influenced the peace process.
From 1989 to 2011, of these 182 signed peace accords, an agreement was 35 percent more likely to last 15 years if women participated in its creation.[1] In the absence of any formal dialogue, we believe it is urgent that women peacemakers are involved in discussing avenues for building peace and security for the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.
By supporting the active participation of women peacemakers, you will have the chance to hear new insights, perspectives and solutions, particularly from those who would be most impacted by a renewed military conflict, and those who have most to gain from ensuring an era of dialogue and diplomacy.
Thank you for your consideration of the active and meaningful participation of women peacemakers to the Ministerial meeting in Vancouver. We look forward to the opportunity to engage with you in Vancouver to ensure peace, security and prosperity for all on the Korean Peninsula and region. We look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
1325 Policy Group, Sweden
21st Century Seoul Women’s Union, Republic of Korea
350.org, USA
ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality, Lebanon
Action for One Korea, USA
African Women’s Active Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change, Africa
Agir pour les Droits de l’Homme, France
Alliance for Gender Inclusion in Peace Process (AGIPP), Myanmar
Alliance of Scholars Concerned about Korea, USA
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, Thailand
Anglican Church of Canada, Canada
Association Dea Dia, Serbia
Association of War Affected Women, Sri Lanka
beyondit, Republic of Korea
Bolivian Women’s Efforts, Bolivia
Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security, USA
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Canada
CanDo International, United Kingdom
Catholic Worker, USA
CEHAJ1325, Democratic Republic of Congo
Center for Korean Peninsula Neutralization, USA
Centre for Social and Gender Research “New Life”, Ukraine
Centre for Supporters of Human Rights (CSHR), United Kingdom
Channing and Popai Liem Education Foundation, USA
Charles and Doosurgh Abaagu Foundation, (CDAF) Nigeria
Christian Aid, United Kingdom
Chungchung-namdo Education Center for Equality, Republic of Korea
CODEPINK, USA
Colombia Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas, Colombia
Comfort Women Justice Coalition, USA
Committed Some for Uganda, Uganda
Common Nourishing and Education, Republic of Korea
Community Emergency Response Initiative (CERI) Nigeria
Community Empowerment for Peace organization, South Sudan
Conseil des Femmes Francophones de Belgique (CFFB), Belgium
Consejo Nacional de Paz Afrocolombiano-CONPA, Columbia
Coordination française pour le Lobby Européen des Femmes (CLEF), France
Defenders for Human Rights Centre (DHRC), Iran
Democracy Development Center, Ukraine
Dignity Restoration and Protection Foundation (DRPF), Nigeria
Durebang, Republic of Korea
Ecumenical Peace Institute/Clergy and Laity Concerned, USA
Ecumenical Youth Network, Republic of Korea
Embrace Dignity, South Africa
Environmentalists Against War, USA
European Women’s Lobby, Belgium
Ewha Women’s Alumni Meeting for Democracy, Republic of Korea
femLINKpacific/GPPAC Pacific, Fiji
Fonds Pour les Femmes Congolaises (FFC), Democratic Republic of Congo
Forum Friedensethik (FFE), Germany
Friends Committee on National Legislation, USA
Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, Africa
Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, USA
Gender Action for Peace and Security, United Kingdom
Gender Center of Volyn Region, Ukraine
Gender Equality Network (GEN), Myanmar
German East Asia Mission (DOAM), Germany
Global Campaign for Peace Education, USA
Global Fund for Women, USA
Global Justice Center, USA
Global Ministries of the Christian Church, USA
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, USA
Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, USA
Global Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict Pacific, International
Global Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict South Asia, International
Global Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict South Caucuses, International
Global Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict Southeast Asia, International
Good Friends USA, USA
Granny Peace Brigade, USA
Greenpeace Canada, Canada
Guahan Coalition for Peace and Justice, Guam
Hawaii Peace and Justice, USA
Health Development and Information Policy Institute (HDIP), Palestine
Helsinki Citizens Assembly Armenia, Armenia
Hibakusha Stories, USA
Iftopia, Republic of Korea
Inclusive Security, USA
Initiatives for International Dialogue, Philippines
Institute for International Women’s Rights, Manitoba
International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms-German Section, Germany
International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA), International
International Center on Conflict and Negotiation, Georgia
International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), USA
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International
International Institute on Peace Education,USA
International Network Against Militarism, International
International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility, International
International Women’s Alliance in the Philippines, Philippines
International Women’s Network against Mi
litarism, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and USA
International Women’s Rights Project (IWRP), Canada
IPPNW, ICAN Partner, Costa Rica
Israeli Disarmament Movement, Israel
Italian Medical Association for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), Italy
Just Associates (JASS), Mesoamerica
Kachin Women Peace Network (KWPN), May Sabe Phyu, Myanmar
Kharkiv Regional Gender Resource Centre-Centre of Gender Culture, Ukraine
Korea Association of Methodist Women in Ministry, Republic of Korea
Korea Church Women United, Republic of Korea
Korea Methodist Women’s Leadership Institute, Republic of Korea
Korea Women’s Association United, Republic of Korea
Korea Women’s Political Solidarity, Republic of Korea
Korean Association of Women Theologians, Republic of Korea
Korean Sharing Movement, Republic of Korea
Kosovo Women’s Network, Republic of Kosovo
Kvinna till Kvinna, Sweden
Kyunggi Council of Women, Republic of Korea
Kyunggi Goyang-Paju Women Link, Republic of Korea
Kyunggi Jinbo Women United, Republic of Korea
Kyunggi Women’s Association United, Republic of Korea
Kyunggi Women’s Network, Republic of Korea
La Strada Ukraine, Ukraine
Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, USA
MADRE, USA
Malaysian Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility, Malaysia
Massachusetts Peace Action, USA
Middle East and North Africa Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, Middle East
MinKwon Center, USA
My Stealthy Freedom, USA
Naga Indigenous Women Network from Nagaland, India
National Council of Churches Korea, Republic of Korea
National Council of Churches Philippines, Philippines
National Council of Women of Ukraine, Ukraine
National Organization of Women, Sierra Leone
NGO Institute of Mass Information, Ukraine
Nobel Women’s Initiative, Canada/International
Nonviolence International, Canada
Nonviolence International, USA
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, USA
Nuclear Free World Committee, Dallas Peace and Justice, USA
Okedongmu Children in Korea, Republic of Korea
One Heart for Justice, USA
Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq, Canada/Iraq
Palestinian medical relief Society (PMRS), Palestine
Pax Christi International, International
Peace Action Fund of New York State, USA
Peace Action Montgomery County, USA
Peace Action San Mateo, USA
Peace Action, USA
Peace and Cultural Foundation, Thailand
Peace Boat, Japan
Peace Culture Village, Japan
Peace is Loud, USA
Peace Mother, Republic of Korea
Peace People, Northern Ireland
Peace Women Partners, Philippines
Peaceworkers, USA
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Republic of Korea
Permanent Peace Movement, Lebanon
Physicians for Social Responsibility-Kansas City, USA
Physicians for Social Responsibility, USA
Pressenza, International
Proceso de Comunidades Negras en Colombia-PCN, Colombia
Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Sri Lanka
Rete Femminista “No muri, No recenti,” Italy
RootsAction.org, USA
Rwanda Women’s Network, Rwanda
Smart Women International Foundation, South Africa
SOFEPADI, Democratic Republic of Congo
Solidarité Chine, France
South Asia Forum for Human Rights, India
Sunlit Sister’s Center, Republic of Korea
Supporting People and Rebuilding Communities, Bangladesh
Teso Women Peace Activists (TEWPA), Uganda
The Association of Major Superiors of Women Religious in Korea, Republic of Korea
The Australian Civil Society Coalition on Women, Peace and Security, Australia
The Center for Peace Education, Philippines
The Christian Network for Peace and Unification, Republic of Korea
The Council of Churches in Korea, Women’s Committee, Republic of Korea
The Gongju Women Human Rights Center, Republic of Korea
The Korean Council for Women Drafted for Mil. Sexual Slavery by Japan, Republic of Korea
The MATCH International Women’s Fund, Canada
The Righteous People for Korean Unification, Republic of Korea
The Syrian Women’s Political Movement, International
The United Church of Canada, Canada
The United Church of Christ, USA
The United Methodist Church, USA
The War Prevention Initiative, USA
The World Council of Churches, Republic of Korea
Ukrainian Association for Research in Women’s History, Ukraine
Ukrainian Women’s Fund, Ukraine
United for Peace and Justice, USA
United for Women’s Rights Against US Military Bases’ Crime, Republic of Korea
United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, USA
United Voice for the Eradication of Prostitution: Hansori, Republic of Korea
Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights, USA
Veterans for Peace, USA
Vinnytsia Informational and Educational Center, Ukraine
Voice for Change, South Sudan
Voices for Creative Nonviolence, USA
Vrede, Belgium
We Women Lanka, Sri Lanka
Western States Legal Foundation, USA
WILPF France, France
WILPF Italy, Italy
Win Without War, USA
WO=MEN, Netherlands
Women Cross DMZ, USA
Women Education Development Organization, Liberia
Women Environmental Programme, Nigeria
Women History Forum, Republic of Korea
Women Journalists without Chains, Yemen
Women Making Peace, Republic of Korea
Women Ministers Association of Presbyterian Churches Korea, Republic of Korea
Women Peacemakers Program, Netherlands
Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), USA
Women’s Action for New Directions, USA
Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), USA
Women’s Funding Network, USA
Women’s Global Network on Reproductive Rights, International
Women’s Information Center, Georgia
Women’s Information Consultative Center, Ukraine
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, International
Women’s March Global, USA
Women’s Perspectives, Ukraine
World Beyond War, International
World Communion of Reformed Churches, International
World March of Women, Turkey
[1] Marie O’Reilly, Andrea O Suilleabhain and Thania Paffenholz,
“Reimaging Peacemaking: Women’s Roles in Peace Processes,”
New York: International Peace Institute, June 2015
