Women continue pushing for sustainable peace

THE International Women for Peace Group (IWPG) has emphasized the need for increased efforts to strengthen security following continuation of war in in various parts of the globe which endangers people’s lives.

IWPG is an international NGO with special advisory status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC) and actively implements peace education for women in different parts of the world.

In response to her recent online meeting, IWPG Director Ms Seo-yeon Lee in Seoul, South Korea, said this year they will continue to discuss peace with partner countries by having better strategies to bring solutions.

Ms Lee said it is very important for them to discuss the existence of peace because it is a valuable thing to gather their thoughts and work together to achieve a peaceful world that transcends race, nation and religion.

She asked women to remember that they are the ones with the truth, the protagonists, and the power to make the world peaceful.

“When the demands of peace are fully realized, it will be beneficial not only in your country but also in the whole world,” emphasized Ms Lee.

The meeting brought together participants from Australia, Armenia, Tanzania, Lebanon and Ethiopia where the delegates reflected on the causes of various conflicts in the world and wanted women through the auspices of the IWPG to raise their voices to end the chaos in the world.

They said that it is time to think about the need to present the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of World War (DPCW) to the United Nations (UN).

Despite the existence of various peacekeeping bodies in the world such as the United Nations Security Council, peacekeeping forces in the world, the African Union, the European Union and restrictions on the use of biological and nuclear weapons, the world continues to face wars that destroy human lives.

Ms Lee said that there has been a call for DPCW to have projects to spread the culture of peace with the vision of handing over a world of peace to future generations, that’s why IWPG sees the need to present on a big platform in the world the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

Ms Pendo Addie from Tanzania said that it is their responsibility to continue with the defense of building a world without war so that humans can have comfort and enjoy their existence on this earth.

“I want Tanzanian women to be united to fight for peace and create a society without war, conflict and violence,” said Ms Addie.

At the event, a certificate of appreciation was given to the members to thank them for their hard work and dedication to serving IWPG, where 15 women were awarded, including Lillian Msaki from Tanzania, Mrs. Anna Meliksetyan from Armenia and Mrs. Maha Alsakban from Iraq.

The ongoing unrest in Ukraine one year since Russia invaded has caused more than 8,000,000 people to flee the country, more than 5,000,000 are internally displaced while one third of all citizens are not in their homes.

17.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, of which more than 16 million have already been reached by essential aid in the country.

Since March 2011, Syria has been in a crisis that has forced more than 500,000 people to flee their homes. Millions of Syrian citizens have not only fled their country, but also millions more have become internal refugees.

This crisis is considered the worst humanitarian crisis in this period where more than 13 million people need help.

War, chaos and the bad security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has caused more than 3 million people to become internal refugees and more than four million others have packed their bags and fled to the neighboring countries of Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and other neighboring countries.

The conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine state intensified in August 2017 following violence against Rohingya Muslims. Government forces have been claiming that the operations are aimed at eliminating terrorists. However, hundreds of thousands of citizens have suffered terrible cruelty, including witnessing murder, rape and even the destruction of their property.

According to the United Nations, since August last year until today, more than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to the neighboring country of Bangladesh.

On July 9, 2011, the Republic of South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan and became the newest nation in the world to become independent. The birth of the nation was the culmination of 6 years of civil war. However, in December 2019, the hostility between the president of South Sudan and his Vice President sparked another civil war and caused a major humanitarian crisis which continues today.

The statement of the IWPG is supported by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr António Guterres, who said that he is determined to make the year 2023 a year of peace and a year of action, highlighting the importance of having actionable answers to the challenges facing the world.

Mr Guterres said this while speaking to journalists at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, in a meeting that was held at the end of last year.

He said “We owe it to the people of the world to fight and take action. There are times when we act privately but with determination,” said Mr Guterres.

The Secretary General has made it clear that what is needed now is nothing else but clear and legitimate measures by using diplomatic methods and that the cost of each country entering the session is truthful answers.

Mr. Guterres said that a meeting will be convened parallel with the opening week of the 78th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly at a leaders’ meeting to review the formulation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).