Women Across Borders Unite for Peace: IWPG Holds 2026 International General Assembly

On January 30, 2026, International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) convened its 2026 International General Assembly online, bringing together nearly 1,000 members from around the world to reflect on past achievements and set a shared direction for global peace efforts in the year ahead.

Held virtually at 8:00 p.m. (KST), the assembly gathered approximately 700 headquarters and branch staff, 200 peace committee chairs, and 200 domestic and international guests, highlighting IWPG’s expanding global network and cross-border solidarity among women.

Reviewing 2025 and Setting the Vision for 2026

The assembly served as both a year-end review and a forward-looking forum. IWPG presented a summary of its 2025 peace activities, followed by the announcement of its 2026 vision and strategic priorities.

In her opening address, Na Young Jeon, Chairwoman of IWPG, emphasized the organization’s identity as a global women-led peace network.

She stated that, as a movement connected with four billion women worldwide, IWPG has a responsibility to ensure that women everywhere can live peaceful and secure daily lives. Acknowledging ongoing conflicts and global instability, she stressed that sustainable peace can only be achieved when women become active agents of peace in their own lives and communities.

Global Messages of Support and Solidarity

The assembly also featured video congratulatory messages from international leaders and partners, reflecting IWPG’s broad global engagement. Speakers included:

• Ok-ran Woo, IWPG Advisory Member

• Gill Nisetaz B. Villarino, President of Leyte Normal University (Philippines)

• Guillermo Narváez Osorio, President of Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco (Mexico)

• Meral Karakaya, Member of the Turkish National Assembly

Their messages underscored the importance of women’s leadership, education, and international cooperation in addressing global challenges.

A New Vision: Women as Makers of Peace

During the session reviewing organizational outcomes, Kyung-nam Choi, Secretary General of IWPG, presented the group’s renewed vision:

“A sustainable future of peace created by all women.”

He explained that IWPG will continue to design all programs around the principle that women are not passive beneficiaries of peace, but active creators of peace. This vision will guide future initiatives, partnerships, and education programs worldwide.

Expanding Global Peace Activities

IWPG reaffirmed its commitment to a wide range of peace initiatives, including:

• Women’s Peace Education

• International Love of Peace Art Competition

• Global women’s peace network building

As an international women-led NGO registered with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC), IWPG currently works with 115 branches in 123 countries and more than 900 partner organizations worldwide.

Moving Forward Together

The 2026 International General Assembly highlighted a central message repeated throughout the event:
peace is not achieved alone, but through collective action and women’s solidarity across borders.

As IWPG moves into 2026, the organization aims to further institutionalize women-led peace efforts, strengthen global cooperation, and continue transforming peace from an ideal into lived reality—one community at a time.

Source: https://vo.la/r1nw8lL