SEOUL, Republic of Korea – The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG, President Na-young Jeon) hosted the Global Women’s Peace Forum online over two days beginning July 20, bringing together 1,067 women from four regions around the world. Participants from the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe, the Americas, and South Asia and the Middle East examined region-specific security challenges and the structural barriers limiting women’s leadership, while proposing practical measures for sustainable peace.
The forum was held as a preparatory international meeting ahead of the 2026 International Women’s Peace Conference, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this September. Discussions and recommendations from each region will be consolidated into the Global Women’s Peace Recommendations 2026 and formally presented at the conference in September.
“Asia-Pacific at the Center of Overlapping Crises”
The first session examined the compound and interconnected security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region and explored how women’s leadership can contribute to sustainable peace.
Carole Shaw, Director of International Access Networks and Chief Executive Officer of UN Asia Pacific Women’s Watch (APWW), presented “Viewing Peace Through a Human Rights Lens.” She argued that peace should be understood through a human rights perspective rather than traditional military approaches, emphasizing that “Peace is not only negotiated after conflict. It is created by the choices we make before violence escalates.”
Melanie Lambino, Director of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the Philippines, addressed the structural barriers that continue to exclude women from decision-making and stressed that women’s voices are essential to lasting peace. “Peace is the presence of equality, justice, safety, and understanding,” she said.
Focus on Women’s Leadership and Community Resilience
The forum also featured proposals that framed peace as a process rooted in individual well-being and community resilience.
Kanakagiri Yashaswini of India explained how meditation and emotional regulation can contribute to sustainable peace. “Mental wellbeing is peace infrastructure,” she said, emphasizing that inner peace is the foundation of lasting peace.
Mujgan Tahery, Founder and CEO of Uniting Circle Multicultural Community Centre, drew on her experience as an Afghan refugee to emphasize that refugee and migrant women should be recognized as leaders in peacebuilding. “Women are not only survivors. Women are peace builders,” she said.
Kathleen Thein of Myanmar stressed the need to connect the voices of women working in local communities with the international peace agenda.
Dr. Huong Nguyen, Lecturer and Researcher at La Trobe University, highlighted the structural barriers facing migrant women, including the non-recognition of overseas qualifications and unequal caregiving responsibilities. “Peace begins when people feel they belong,” she said, stressing that inclusive communities are essential for sustainable peace.
Suraiya Kamaruzzaman of Indonesia introduced the experience of Aceh, a region that endured prolonged armed conflict as well as the devastating 2004 tsunami. She proposed strengthening community resilience by giving women substantive authority over budgets and decision-making in disaster preparedness and response.
“Local Problems, Local Solutions”
Breakout discussions held after the presentations produced a range of practical proposals reflecting the circumstances of individual communities.
The group discussing Aceh and Kiribati proposed expanding women’s leadership training to prevent sexual violence and domestic violence.
A group examining peace within the family identified the cultural perception that housework is solely a woman’s responsibility as a major obstacle to peace.
Participants from Australia and the Philippines identified gender-based violence and youth violence as priority concerns. They proposed establishing support platforms for women affected by violence and expanding peace education for young people.
The group focusing on multicultural and refugee women identified a sense of social belonging as a central element of peace and shared the example of a peace library in Mongolia.
Another group examined discrimination and the distortion of information. Participants warned that misinformation spread through social media is undermining democracy and trust within communities. They emphasized the need to respond through stronger cooperation among governments and expanded peace education.
In her opening remarks, IWPG President Na-young Jeon emphasized the importance of listening to women who experience local challenges firsthand. “Women living in each community understand the challenges they face better than anyone else,” Jeon said. “If we truly want sustainable peace, we must shorten the distance between local realities and global decision-making. And the first step is to listen to the voices of women who are living those realities every day.” Jeon added that IWPG would work to ensure that the diverse peace proposals developed by women in different regions are conveyed to the international community.
About IWPG
The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) is an international women’s NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable peace through women’s leadership, peace education, advocacy, and international cooperation. Working with women leaders, governments, international organizations, and civil society worldwide, IWPG advances women’s participation in peacebuilding and fosters a global culture of peace through dialogue and collaborative action.
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