World Women Call in One Voice, “I Can. We Can. She Can. World Peace!”
Seoul, South Korea – At 3:08p.m (local time) on March 8, International Women’s Day, 10 million women across 132 countries participated in
the grand scale of the IWPG International Women’s Day Peace Campaign.
International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG, Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim) initiated a campaign, under the theme of “The Flower of
Peace has Blossomed” not only at Yeouido Han River Park in Seoul but also through its 200 branches across 132 countries,
to start at 3:08 pm in their respective time zones. Considering the time differences in each country, the campaign has
relayed for 24 hours. 3,000 women participants at the Yeouido Han River Park marched for peace and shouted, “SHE CAN.
SHE CAN. SHE CAN. WORLD PEACE!,” urging for women’s rights and the realization of peace.
In her opening remarks, IWPG Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim said, “If the most beautiful human beings do the most beautiful
work, the work of peace, there is nothing more valuable than that. The enhancement of women’s rights is directly linked
to the development of mankind. Thus, when the loving heart and power of mothers are embedded in every woman’s heart, we
will be able to make the greatest progress.”
She added, “With IWPG at the forefront, the worldwide movement of women and youth will rise together to urge the
implementation of the international law on the cessation of war and achievement of world peace.”
The event in Seoul began with a beautiful art performance of 50 multi-cultural female performers wearing their
traditional clothes dancing to ‘Hand in Hand’, the official song of the 1988 Olympic Games, and ‘Arirang’, the Korean
folk song most widely loved and sung. The performance expressed the unity of women transcending nationalities,
ethnicities, and religions.
In the meantime, on March 5th, Chairwoman Kim was invited to ‘MARCH IN MARCH’ hosted by UN Women for Peace Association
(UNWFPA) in New York City. At the event, she delivered the keynote speech along with Ms. Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek, spouse of
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. She also gave a speech on empowering women and gender equality at the 59th Session of
the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) held at the UN headquarters in March 2015.
The UN began celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, 1975 to remember and recognize women’s economic,
political, and social achievements and to elevate women’s status in honor of the 1908 garment workers’ strike when women
protested against poor working conditions.
The 2016 theme for International Women’s Day is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality” urging
governments to take national action plans in establishing equal status (50/50) between men and women by 2030.
In line with the UN women’s peace initiatives, IWPG has received the spotlight as an NGO constructing a peace network
among international women in various sectors of society. With its headquarters in South Korea, IWPG has been actively
carrying out women’s peace initiatives with the heart of ‘motherly love’ and is leading on the front lines in the battle
to achieve cessation of war and world peace in their respective communities and beyond.
ENDS