Mobilizing Women Globally for Peace in Korea

Our 2015 DMZ crossing

In May 2015, on the 70th anniversary of Korea’s division into two separate states by cold war powers, thirty international women peacemakers from around the world walked with thousands of Korean women, north and south, to call for an end to the Korean War, reunification of families and women’s leadership in the peace process. We held international peace symposiums in Pyongyang and Seoul where we listened to Korean women and shared our experiences and ideas of mobilizing women to bring an end to war and violent conflict. On May 24, International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament, we successfully crossed the 2-mile wide De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) that separates millions of Korean families as a symbolic act of peace.

Since our historic crossing, we have continued our journey to mobilize women globally for peace in Korea. We seek to do this by…

Raising global awareness about the urgent need for peace in Korea;
Expanding and deepening relationships among women leaders and organizations in North and South Korea and globally;
Promoting women’s leadership in peace-building processes on the Korean peninsula and region; and
Building capacity and partnerships for greater impact and sustainability.

2018 Vancouver Women’s Forum

On January 16, 2018, as Foreign Ministers from twenty nations gathered in Vancouver to discuss security and stability on the Korean Peninsula, an international delegation of sixteen women representing feminist peace movements from Asia, Europe and North America convened in Vancouver to ensure that civil-society perspectives are included in the official talks.

The objective of the women’s peace delegation was 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 reminded 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.

Visit the Vancouver Women’s Forum page for more information including our Final Statement.

Facts

4 Million people died in the Korean War of 1950–53, most of them Korean civilians.

10 Million families are still separated by the DMZ.

70 Million Koreans live in a state of war due to unresolved conflict.

60+ Years after the war ended with a temporary cease-fire agreement, we’re still waiting for a peace treaty.

$1 Trillion is spent by USA, China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea on militarization, fueled by unresolved conflicts.

WHY WOMEN MUST ACT FOR PEACE IN KOREA NOW

After nearly 4 million people, mostly Korean civilians, were killed during the 1950–53 Korean War, fighting was halted when North Korea, China, and the United States representing the UN Command signed a ceasefire agreement. They promised within three months to sign a peace treaty; over 60 years later, we’re still waiting.

The unresolved Korean conflict gives all governments in the region justification to further militarize and prepare for war, depriving funds for schools, hospitals, and the welfare of the people and the environment. That’s why women are walking and will continue to work across boundaries to help reunite families and realize peace in Korea for world peace.