The 2026 International Women’s Peace Conference, hosted by the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), was held in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, from September 17 to 18.

 

The conference, held under the theme “Everyday Peace, Women’s Power: Shaping Global Governance,” brought together more than 800 participants both online and in person. They included former and current government officials, local government leaders, diplomats, international organization representatives, educators, journalists and women leaders from civil society.

 

The main focus was on how women’s experiences of building peace in their communities can be reflected in public policy and international cooperation.

 

During the conference, IWPG signed memorandums of understanding with 12 organizations and institutions from eight countries. The agreements cover cooperation in women’s peace education, community-based peace projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s participation.

 

The event also saw the presentation of the 2026 Global Women’s Peace Recommendations, based on the views of more than 1,070 women leaders from 46 countries.

 

The recommendations call for greater participation by women in policymaking, stronger institutional support covering areas such as healthcare, legal assistance and psychological support, and expanded peace education for younger generations.

 

Women leaders share experiences from conflict-affected regions

 

Women leaders from countries affected by conflict and social inequality also took part in the main sessions.

 

Fawzia Koofi, former Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan’s Parliament, spoke about the need for women to have a direct role in formal negotiations and national decision-making processes.

 

Diana Guadalupe Caiza, mayor of Ambato, Ecuador, shared her experience of combining women’s empowerment, education and community-based governance at the local level.

 

Ahad Mohammed Salem Gassous, Yemen’s Minister of Local Administration and State Minister for Women’s Affairs, highlighted the role women have played in protecting local communities during conflict and called for greater participation by women in post-conflict reconstruction.

 

The conference also included sessions on AI and peace, peace education, women’s leadership, future generations and the role of civil society.

 

A new academic network session examined ways to strengthen peace education in universities and schools, including a case from Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco in Mexico.

 

IWPG also announced plans to reorganize its existing peace committees into community-based “Peace Chapters.” The organization said the existing committees will focus more on expert advice and policy discussions.

 

 

 

 

IWPG President Jeon Na-young said women’s experiences in their families, workplaces and communities can provide practical ideas for building peace and developing public policy.

 

The two-day conference concluded with discussions on continuing international cooperation and turning the recommendations and agreements reached at the event into practical projects.