PSPD in English Peace/Disarmament 2010-11-24   2898

[Int’l workshop for Peace&Disarmament] Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference : Negotiating Regional Peace, Reconciliation, and Cooperation(Gyung-Lan Jung)



Session2. Creating Civil Solidarity for NWF Disarmament and Prevention of Armed Conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region

Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference : Negotiating Regional Peace, Reconciliation, and Cooperation




 


Gyung-Lan Jung / Women Making Peace



“We Believe Peace Is Coming!”
 – Chant shouted near DMZ by participants of Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference



 1. Critical Questions of the Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference


What we initially had in mind when we were designing this conference in 2007 was a “Women’s Six-Party Talks”. At the time, there was apparently no woman in the intergovernmental Six-Party Talks’ scene. The negotiation table which can make or break peace and the destiny of the Korean Peninsula was occupied solely by men.


Where is women’s presence in the formal peace and security talks? Why are women not represented at the peace negotiation table? What can we women do to change the situation? How can we create an environment that would enable women’s involvement? All these critical questions led us to the idea of the Women’s Six-Party Talks.
The Six-Party Talks aims to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, normalization of the North Korea-US diplomatic relations, creation of a forum for building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and peace and stability in Northeast Asia. If the Six-Party Talks moves forward, it will translate into the creation of a new environment on the Korean Peninsula that can bring about the dismantlement of the Cold War structure and establishment of peace on the last frontier of the Cold War. In addition, it would present Northeast Asia an opportunity to form a new framework of peace and cooperation.


Peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia is not an issue just for the government or men, because sustainable peace cannot be achieved by the government or men alone. Indeed, sustainable peace is attainable only when the very parties suffering from the conflict take the peace process as their own issue, instead of taking it as an externally-driven one. Also, it can be made possible when people living in different countries in Northeast Asia come together in the spirit of community to build a regional framework where they can meet and share concerns through dialogue to rise from the ashes of the past history and restore sound relationships.



 2. Women’s Participation in Peace-building and Women’s Six-Party Talks as a Process


1) Women’s Participation in Peace Process


The status of women in Korea is mind-boggling. The World Economic Forum’s “2010 Gender Gap Index” released on 12 October provides a good snapshot of where women stand relative to men. Korea ranked 104th out of 134 countries. Women are underrepresented in the field of peace and security as well.


Conflicts exert different impacts to men and women. The conflict situation and military culture provoke sex trafficking and sexual violence. Although we are not in hot war right now, the militarism is prevalent on the Korean Peninsula as a result of the continued Cold War structure. The division of the Korean Peninsula led to the division of Northeast Asia, driving nations to strive for strengthened military power, increased military spending and expanded military exercises in order to counter the “enemy”. Northeast Asia’s military spending increased by 55% for the past decade. Such spending should rather be used to reduce the gender gap by providing financial supports, education, medical services and psychological stability. The Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia are in desperate need of investment in this regard.


Recently, women’s peace movement has come to recognize women not only as the victims of conflict but also as the solution makers. Led by the United Nations, activities promoting women’s equal participation and active involvement in conflict resolution and peace-building have gained steam in the international community. Especially, UN made multi-faceted efforts for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 adopted in 2000. Major indicators were developed to assess whether the action plans are drawn up for implementation by the UN organizations and how the UN and member countries are implementing the resolution. The indicators demonstrate what women’s peace movement strives towards in the conflict-stricken areas; that is, 3Ps and R&R. First, “Prevention” – given that conflicts affect men and women in different ways, ensure that conflict prevention activities and strategies are gender sensitive taking into account different needs of men and women. Second, “Participation” – promote women’s involvement in decision-making and equal participation in peace process. Third, “Protection” – safeguard the human rights of women and girls, protect them from physical damages and ensure their economic security. Also, address how to realize the integration of a gender perspective into legal and institutional reforms. Fourth, “Relief and Recovery” – ensure women and girls have equal access to all relief and recovery efforts.
 
In addition, at the individual country level, the National Action Plan for the Implementation of Resolution 1325 is developed and implemented. To date, 23 governments including the Philippines have completed their own National Action Plan. While South Korea was one of the members in support of Resolution 1325 in 2000, efforts for implementation of the resolution is hardly seen at the moment.


Women’s participation in peace-building in conflict areas like the Korean Peninsula is absolutely significant. How women are involved in the peace process will make a difference in women’s post-conflict status. Peace on the Korean Peninsula will be attainable when the three key elements – North-South civilian groups, North-South governments and the international society – work in harmony. But, above all, the strong commitment of the two Koreas, their people and governments, is key to realizing peace. Unless women comprising half of the Korean Peninsula take part in the peace process, lasting peace cannot be realized, and without peace, there is no path forward for women.


2) Women’s Six-Party Talks as a Process


The following three perspectives argued by civic groups for conflict prevention and realization of peace may help you better understand the concept of “Women’s Six-Party Talks as a Process”.


First, participation of civic groups is critical to conflict prevention and peacemaking, and in this regard a new partnership needs to be formed. To bring resolution to armed conflicts that are taking place in many parts of the world, active participation of civic and social groups rather than a single government or organization is required. Thus, we should seek a new framework of cooperation in which NGOs, activists, scholars, government representatives and international organizations work together to resolve conflicts all around the world.


Second, a paradigm shift is imperative – from reaction to conflict prevention. Up to now, international NGOs and governments have been focusing on responding to conflicts after they break out, instead of fending them off in advance. In other words, they have familiarized themselves with the culture of reaction. We must turn it around into the culture of prevention. Conflict prevention means that proactive measures are taken to mitigate a dispute before it escalates into a violent conflict. For peace to take a firm root, a comprehensive mechanism that encompasses political issues, development issues, humanitarian measures and human rights programs should be created and put in place in order to prevent violent conflicts from occurring, recurring and continuing.


Third, conflict resolution and conflict prevention are a process of transformation. The culture of conflict resolution and prevention takes the dynamics of process importantly. In other words, if conflicts are prolonged, human relationships are destroyed and communities are broken down, leaving enormous consequences. That is why individuals and communities should work together to overcome the pains they suffered during the conflicts and to transform the violent and destructive social structure into a peaceful one to realize coexistence and reconciliation. It is an on-going process, a process of continuous transformation. The concept of Women’s Six-Party Talks is to allow women to take a leading role in this transformation process.


After all, the Women’s Six-Party Talks is a process of participation for women to enhance their capability of responding to conflicts in a constructive way and to learn lessons together while women from the Northeast Asian countries including North Korea and the US representing various fields gather together to seek ways to make the very much divided Northeast Asia affected by the Cold War a community of peace and solidarity, thereby building up mutual understanding. This process allows women from Korea and other countries in the region with the common vision of peace to go beyond the current role of simply assisting the intergovernmental Six-Party Talks to think and act independently to build peace on and around the Korean Peninsula, expanding their partnership to a new horizon that surpasses territorial boundaries.
 
The boundless solidarity of the Northeast Asian women will serve as the process of building up positive common memories to form a new identity that can transcend the identity gap between the two Koreas and among different countries in the region. It can also be called a process of developing a driving force to cultivate the culture of peace and co-existence that fosters tolerance and appreciation of the differences of Northeast Asian countries and at the same time seek the universal value of humanity, overcoming the regional division through women’s solidarity.



 3. History of Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference


In 2007, Women Making Peace organized a “South Korean Women’s Peace Delegation” comprised of women leaders and lawmakers involved in the Women’s Six Party Talks.  Later that year, the Women’s Peace Delegation visited the five other countries participating in the Six Party Talks on the DPRK’s (North Korea) nuclear program: China, the DPRK, Japan, Russia, and the U.S.A.  The delegation articulated the importance of gender empowerment in fostering reconciliation, cooperation, and peace in Korea and Northeast Asia, and urged the normalization of relations between the DPRK and United States, as well as the DPRK and Japan.

In 2008, Women Making Peace, Korean Women’s Association United and the Women’s Committee of The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation organized the “2008 Northeast Asia Women’s Peace Conference.”  The conference was held in Seoul, South Korea in September 2008.  Participants of the Conference primarily came from China, Japan, Russia and the U.S. with representatives from international women’s associations and Congresswomen from Japan and South Korea. All participants broadened their understanding through dialogue with NGO representatives, as well as unofficial talks with two participating Congresswomen from Japan and South Korea.  The Women’s Conference focused on building common ground to reduce misunderstandings and mistrust caused by colonial and Cold War experiences, as well as differences amongst the diverse political-economic systems and cultures of Northeast Asia. Representatives from five countries gave presentations about their experiences and viewpoints for fostering peace in Northeast Asia.


In 2009, the “Organizing Committee of the Northeast Asia Women’s Peace Conference” co-hosted the “2009 Northeast Asia Women’s Peace Conference” entitled “Negotiating Regional Peace, Reconciliation and Cooperation” with the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at The George Washington University in Washington, DC.  Participants at the 2009 conference were women from China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the U.K., and the U.S.A.  Former Prime Minister Myung Sook Han of the Republic of Korea and Ambassador Melanne S. Verveer, the U.S.A. Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, delivered keynote speeches at the conference.  The goals of this conference were to strengthen relations among women and women’s participation in the peace process (Track II diplomacy) and to seek ways to coordinate Track I and Track II through dialogue for building peace in the Northeast Asian region.  Women representing the Six Parties visited the U.S.A. Congress and State Department (Sung Kim, the special envoy for the Six-Party Talks); and shared their experiences and thoughts on issues facing the Korean Peninsula.  Participants emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula, and urged the U.S.A. Government to include women’s Track II initiatives in support of the official Six-Party Talks. 


In 2010, the organizing committee of the Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference held its international conference in Seoul. Following the Cheonan warship sinking incident, tension is rising in the region with the ROK, the US and Japan on one side and the DPRK, China and Russia on the other side, which has triggered keen attention to the peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. This year’s conference was attended by women representatives from China, Russia, the US, Japan, Korea and Northern Ireland.



 4. Goals of Women’s Meetings in Seoul in 2010


1) Search for Common Ground


The Conference will invite women representatives from countries of the Six-Party Talks to discuss the DPRK’s nuclear program and suggestions regarding the “Women’s Initiative for Creating Korean Peace Regime.”  The Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference will view peace not only from each country’s perspective but also from a regional viewpoint. The main objective is to seek common ground for fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula, the focal point of the Northeast Asian crisis, and to express women’s views on relations between peace and women’s development.


2) Delivery of Policy Recommendations


Participants of the conference will visit the South Korean Government and Embassies of the Six-Party Talk countries, such as China, Japan, Russia, and the U.S.A.; listen to each country’s policies towards the Korean Peninsula (including issues related to the DPRK’s nuclear program and the peace process on the Korean Peninsula), and deliver policy recommendations discussed at the peace conference.


3) Empowerment of Track II diplomacy and Track I and Track II cooperation


This conference will reinforce women’s Track II activities and seek ways to cooperate with Track I activities for reducing tensions and fostering peace in the Northeast Asia.  The true end of the Korean War on the Korean Peninsula and establishment of a peace process will only be obtained not just by the peace agreement between the concerned governments, but also by civilian participation in the peace process.


4) Implementation of UNSCR 1325


the peace conference is a process to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) and the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (2000).  As of May 2010, eighteen countries established National Action Plans in order to implement the UN SCR 1325. Needless to say, decision-making in the Northeast Asia regional security dialogue has heretofore been monopolized by men.  Bringing women’s voices to the table is in keeping with UN SCR 1325, which recognized “the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building and stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.”


5) Development of Women’s Global Leadership


Through various programs such as an open symposium with women from Northern Ireland and Northeast Asia, visits to the National Assembly and embassies, a strategic meeting and a field trip, the conference will help participants to improve communication skills, broaden expertise and perspectives on international issues, build the international conference organizing skills and develop foreign language competence as well as other required qualifications for global leaders.



 5. 2010 Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference Programs


■ October 5, 2009 <Public Session>
10:00-10:20 Introductory Remarks
 Welcoming Remarks : Honorable Ms. Young Hee Choi, Chairperson, Gender Equality and Family Committee, National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
10:20-12:00 Session I: Keynote Speeches (30 minutes each)
 1) Peace in Northeast Asia and Korean Peace Regime / Ms. Insoon NamYoon, Representative, Korean Women’s Associations United
 2) Peace Negotiation Process and Women – Experiences and Lessons of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition / Ms. Bronagh Hinds, Co-founder of the Women’s Coalition
 Questions and Answers
12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-4:30 Session II: Country Reports on Fostering Peace in Northeast Asia
 1) Russia : Ms. LebeMsMsdeva Nina Boresovna, Member of the Women’s Union of Russia, Leading Scholar at the Institute of Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
 2) United States : Ms. Linda J.Yarr, Director, Program for International Studies in Asia, George Washington University
 3) China : Ms. Sun Jisheng, Dean of the Department of English and International Studies, China Foreign Affairs University
 4) Japan: Ms. Chie Yoshimura, Vice President, YWCA of Japan
 5) ROK: Ms. Young Hee Cho, Representative, Women Making Peace
 Questions and Answers
Evening : Welcoming Dinner / Sponsored by Honorable Ms. Young Hee Choi, Chairperson, Gender Equality and Family Committee, National Assembly of the Republic of Korea


■ October 6th
<Morning> Strategic Meeting: Discussion regarding policy recommendations to Six party talks countries
<Afternoon> Visit to the US Embassy
 – Meeting with Honorable Mr. Hyeyoung Won, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee, National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
 – Meeting with Honorable Ms. Mikyung Lee, General Secretary of the Democratic Party
<Evening> Networking Dinner


■ October 7th
Field Trip: DMZ and meeting with a victim of anti-personal landmines
Farewell dinner



 6. Accomplishments and Limits


1) Expansion of Women’s Network and Its Limits


 ▪ Seeking a New Partnership: Activists from women’s groups, scholars, representatives of international bodies, government officials and many other women leaders were invited to heighten the interest in peace on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia and to reinforce empowerment of women.
 ▪ Networking Level : Not a routine network but a conference-based network. Participants expressed hopes for maintaining the Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference to build relationship and trust. Follow-up meetings were held in some participating countries(The US).
 ▪ The issue of Women’s capacity in peace and security of Northeast Asia: As years go by, we find it more and more difficult to invite overseas women participants to the conference. China and Russia has just few women’s groups specializing in peace and security; women’s peace groups in the US have little interest in Northeast Asia; and Japanese women’s groups are highly interested in issues on the Korean Peninsula but feel reluctant to work with North Korea. Moreover, there are only a small number of female experts or decision-makers in this subject matter. Even if they have interest in the issue, they feel hesitant to take part in the conference due to political concerns.
 ▪ Challenges to  secure the primary vehicle of each nation to carry Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference forward


2) Discussion on Women’s Collective Agenda regarding Peace on the Korean Peninsula and Lobbying Activities


 ▪ Seeking the common ground for fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia and lobbying concerned governments. Conference participants visited the US Congress, the Department of State, the US Embassy in Korea and members of the Korean National Assembly, and delivered recommendations to the Six-Party-Talks countries.
 ▪ Released joint statements every year since the first conference held in 2008
 – 2008 Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference Joint Statement of the Participants
 – 2009 Recommendations to the US Government and Congress         Statement of the 2009 Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference “Negotiating Regional Peace, Reconciliation, and Cooperation”
 – 2010 Recommendations to the Six-Party-Talks Countries
 ▪ Main points: △Humanitarian assistance to North Korea △Promotion of dialogue and cooperation; Resumption of the Six-Party Talks; Implementation of the agreement in the 9.19 Joint Communiqué; Taking steps to move on from the Armistice Agreement to a Peace Agreement for the Korean Peninsula △Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security △Establishment of a Women’s Council for the Six-Party Talks △Reinforcement of female personnel in assistance programs for North Korea to account for 30 percent of the staff.
 ▪ Bringing UN SCR 1325 into limelight


3) Raising Awareness on the Division of the Korean Peninsula


 ▪ Visits to Gaeseong and DMZ, and meeting with a victim of anti-personal landmines provided an opportunity to further realize the stark reality faced by the divided Korean Peninsula.
 
4) Government-Civilian Cooperation (Track I-Track II cooperation)


 ▪ 4Cs for government-civilian cooperation : Communication (information sharing, analysis sharing), Coordination (joint planning), Cooperation (resource sharing, maximizing effects of their respective programs), Collaboration (working together, maximizing effects of joint programs)
 ▪ Cooperation with the government has been pursued to promote women’s involvement in peace process on the Korean Peninsular, however, Northeast Asian governments have paid little attention. Not a single government in this region has the National Action Plan for the Implementation of UN SCR 1325.
 cf. The National Action Plan for Implementation of UN SCR 1325 – NGOs, women’s groups, etc. are included in the National Action Plan.
 ▪ A cooperation mechanism between Track I and Track II in the field of peace and security needs to be developed.
 ▪ Since the Cheonan warship incident, the government-civilian relations have further weakened amidst rising tensions among Northeast Asian nations.
 ▪ There is a lack of communication channels with the government of each country.


5) Conference without North Korea


 ▪ The Women’s Six-Party Talks is incomplete without North Korea’s participation
 ▪ The lack of North Korea’s presence is reflective of the unstable situation of the Korean Peninsula and the inter-Korean relationship.
 ▪ How to induce North Korea’s participation – political and military approach; humanitarian assistance, development cooperation


6) Weak human and financial infrastructure


 ▪ Limits in terms of finance, organization, publicity and policy



▣ Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference’s Recommendations:to the Six-Party-Talks Countries


Women at the 2010 Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference express our concern with the reappearing tensions, military conflicts and dangers of war in Northeast Asia, especially after the Cheonan Incident. Military exercises have increased on and around the Korean Peninsula. We oppose any kind of war and other threatening actions. We strongly believe that with mutual trust we can achieve peace through reconciliation, economic cooperation, social and cultural exchanges, and diplomatic normalization. 


We applaud the recent humanitarian assistance and efforts to promote dialogue between the two Koreas. We hope such activity will not cease but develop into dialogue to build sustainable peace. This year is the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, the 10th anniversary of 6.15 Joint Declaration, and the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. We call on the Six-Party-Talks countries to increase efforts to make the Korean Peninsula a home of peace.


We recommend to the Six-Party-Talks countries: 


1. Increase humanitarian assistance including food and medical supplies to North Korea, which will assist towards the realization of peace.


2. Promote dialogue and cooperation instead of economic sanctions and military exercises. Resume inter-Korean, US-North Korean, Japan-North Korean dialogues and the Six-Party-Talks as soon as possible. Implement the agreement in the 9.19 Joint Communiqué, including pursuing denuclearization and a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula and normalizing the US-North Korean and Japan-North Korean relations. Take concrete steps to move on from the Armistice Agreement to a Peace Agreement for the Korean Peninsula.


3. Implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which calls for the full participation of women at all levels in peace processes, peacekeeping and peace building. Adopt National Action Plans and include women as chief negotiators, representatives of working groups, and observers in the process of multi-national negotiations in Northeast Asia.


4. Establish a Women’s Council for the Six-Party Talks. Recognize the importance of women’s Track II efforts and women NGOs’ activities in supporting the official process of bilateral talks, including inter-Korean, US-North Korean, Japan-North Korean dialogues, and the Six-Party-Talks. Resource women’s efforts and incorporate their views in decision-making.


5. Reinforce the number of qualified female personnel in all assistance programs for North Korea, so that at least 30 percent of the management and program staff are women.


We will seek ways to cooperate with the Six-Party-Talks countries to build peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. We recommend the respective countries to accept and act on our proposal.


October 6th, 2010
Participants of the 2010 Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference



◯ Gyung-Lan JUNG / Korea
Gyung Lan JUNG is Chairperson, Policy Committee, Women Making Peace (Seoul) and coordinator of the Organizing Committee of Northeast Asian Women’s Peace Conference.  She is Co-Executive Director, Women’s Division, South Korean Committee for the Implementation of 6. 15th South- North Joint Declaration. Prior to taking this position, she was the Chairperson of the Women Making Peace Center for Peaceful Future of Korea and International Solidarity Committee. Formerly a researcher at the Christian Institute for the Study of Justice and Development, she has studied reunification and the role of women in North and South Korea. She was a visiting scholar at the George Washington University and finished a Ph D. course at the University of North Korean Studies and holds a Certificate of completion in Advanced Conflict Resolution from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. Her peace-building efforts include: attending the North and South Korean Women’s Rally in Mt. Kumgang, North Korea; organizing the North and South Korean Women’s meetings at the North-South Korean Joint Event in Seoul; She joined the  delegate for a South Korean speaking tour to the US in June 2003 regarding the dangers of war on the Korean peninsula; authoring “The Present Situation of Northern and Southern Women” in The Structure and Reality of 50 Years of Division of Korea(Minjungsa), Peace Movement after 9.11 in South Korean Human Rights Situation and Tasks(South Korean Human Rights Foundation), Civil Cooperation: US-DPRK Exchanges (POSCO PTJ Foundation) and coauthoring “South Korean women’s peace movement and International Solidarity” in South Korean Women’s Peace Movement History(Hangilsa) Women Making Peace www.peacewomen.or.kr



 

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