“200 Women from 15 Countries Participate… IWPG Connects Peace to Action”

Only Peace Conference Hosted by Global Region 2 ….. 

Expanding Peace Practice Across a 25-Country Network

The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) Global Region 2 (Director Seoyeon Lee) held the “2026 Only Peace Conference” online via Zoom on April 11, 2026, at 8:00 PM (KST), under the theme “Her Voice of Peace: How Have Women Sustained Peace?”

The conference was hosted by IWPG Global Region 2 and organized for its international partners. Approximately 200 participants attended, representing 15 of IWPG’s 25 partner countries, excluding Latin America. Due to time differences, Latin American countries, including Colombia, are scheduled to participate in a separate session.

The program began with an opening video and interactive audience engagement, followed by the keynote speech delivered by H.E. Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister of Women and Social Affairs of Ethiopia.

Minister Tesfaye emphasized,

“Peace is not sustained solely through institutions or systems, but has long been upheld within communities, families, and individuals. At the center of this process have always been women.”

She further stated,

“Women’s participation is not optional, but essential, and must be institutionalized to achieve sustainable peace.”

In the following session, speakers from various countries shared their lived experiences of peace.

Melinda Jones, an Australian human rights lawyer and peace advocate, reflected on her participation in the 2016 Women Wage Peace march, stating,

“Peace is not created through argument alone, but through the act of walking together, standing together, and sharing voices.”

Anna Meliksetyan, Director of DNA NGO in Armenia, explained through the experience of the deaf community that,

“Peace is not silence, but another form of struggle—one that builds dialogue and drives change.”

Patricia Elias, Global Chair leading government and ministerial advocacy from Lebanon, highlighted the urgency of the global context, stating,

“The world is facing an unprecedented level of conflict, and women are not merely victims but targets of war. There can be no sustainable peace without women.”

Josianne Hajj Mussa, CEO of Beirut Times, noted,

“Peace is not a single event, but a repeated daily choice. It is the transition from contributing to conflict to becoming part of its interruption.”

Mujgan Tahery, Founder and CEO of Uniting Circle Multicultural Community Centre in Australia, added,

“Peace begins not from external conditions but from within. It grows through mutual respect, which leads to understanding.”

During the open mic session, participants from diverse professional backgrounds—including a Deputy Minister of Culture from Yemen, members of the judiciary, university professors, former politicians, and journalists—shared their perspectives and real-life practices of peace, generating strong resonance among attendees.

A key feature of the conference was its action-oriented design. Moving beyond discussion, participants were guided to make real-time decisions for concrete actions, including peace education programs, campaigns, and storytelling initiatives.

In this process, the conference clearly demonstrated a transformative approach—shifting peace from an individual “choice” into collective “action.” By connecting individual experiences and translating them into structured engagement, the event established a practical pathway for participants to actively contribute to peacebuilding beyond the conference itself.

Following the event, Minister Ergogie Tesfaye expressed her appreciation, stating,

“I am happy to see women from different corners of the globe gathered to discuss and work on peace issues. Well done and congratulations.”

She further added,

“I truly appreciate the work IWPG is doing and would be glad to connect you with women’s associations in Ethiopia working on peace,” indicating potential for future collaboration.

Seoyeon Lee, Director of IWPG Global Region 2, stated in her closing remarks,

“Peace already exists within our lives. We have been choosing peace even in the midst of conflict.”

She continued,

“Now is the time to move beyond individual experiences of peace and connect and expand them collectively. This conference marks the starting point where those who choose peace come together, and this choice must lead to action.”

Building on its network across approximately 25 countries, IWPG Global Region 2 plans to further expand women’s peace education, strengthen global partnerships, and develop structured, action-based peace initiatives.

IWPG is an international NGO registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC), and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea. The organization operates through 115 branches in 122 countries and collaborates with over 900 partner organizations in 68 countries, working toward the realization of world peace.

1. H.E. Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister of Women and Social Affairs of Ethiopia, delivers a keynote speech at the “2026 Only Peace Conference” hosted by IWPG Global Region 2.

2. Participants of the “2026 Only Peace Conference” hosted by IWPG Global Region 2 pose for a commemorative group photo.

3. Participants engage in the Peace Story Challenge during the “2026 Only Peace Conference” hosted by IWPG Global Region 2.