In order to celebrate International Women’s Day, 10 women’s peace organizations, including the National YWCA of Korea, staged a women’s peace demonstration condemning the Russian invasion and advocating for peace in Ukraine on March 8th.
On this day at 11 a.m., women’s organizations including National YWCA of Korea, Seoul Women Workers Association, Korea Association of Christian Women for Women Minjung, Christian Women’s Association, Gyeong-gi Women’s Association United, Women Making Peace, Inc. Assosiation. New Korea, Inc. Assosiation. The Korean People Artist Federation, Korea Women’s Association United, and Korea Women’s Hot-line gathered in front of the Russian Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, raising their voices to call for the Russian government to cease the war and restore peace in Ukraine.
Young-hee Won, the president of National YWCA of Korea, stated that “In commemoration of International Women’s day, Ukrainian women bravely striving to protect their country, Russian women defending their positions and working towards restoration on this day, women raising their voices even amid conflicts around the world including the Korean pennisula, will continue to uphold the solidarity for peace with citizens worldwide.”
Kim Ye-ji, a youth director of National YWCA of Korea, who delivered the first solidarity speech, emphasized, “The peace of Ukraine is directly linked to the peace of the Korean Peninsula. Allowing the inhumane actions of the Russian military to go unchecked provides an opportunity for someone to undermine peace on the Korean Peninsula,” expressing that “As a Korean woman who has experienced the pain of war, I can’t stand idly by and have taken to the streets.”
Eun-joo Yoon, the representative of Inc. Assosiation. New Korea, urged Putin to halt the unjust war, and requested American women that the Biden administration refrain from provoking Russia with NATO forces.
Jung-ah Lee, the standing representative of the Gyeong-gi Women’s Association United, declared, “Everything is destroyed, and in front of those who have lost parents, children, lovers, and neighbors, Putin has no justification and is already a loser,” raising her voice.
Lee Hyun-joo, a member and pastor of Wumtda, emphasized, “The reality of children suffering means there is no future for us anymore. It is crucial for the war to end, allowing us to live a dignified life in a safe place.”
Hahn Mi-mi, the Vice President of the World YWCA, stated that, “Since the Second World War, the world has seen the most significant exodus of refugees, with 1.5 million people displaced, 80% of whom are women and children. However, women are not just victims; they pledge to stand together until the madness of this war is stopped, acting as ‘peacemakers.”
On International Women’s Day, a statement opposing the war in Ukraine was read by Lee Kwang-sil(Secretary-General of the Paju YWCA), Lee Ki-beum,(staff member of the Seoul YWCA), and Cho Jeong-hyeon(Director of the Daejeon YWCA). In the statement, they emphasized that no form of invasion or war should be tolerated, and called for Putin to immediately release the participants of the protest and for the international community to participate in the recovery of Ukraine. They also declared a commitment to remember Ukrainian women refugees and to support and stand in solidarity with peace in Ukraine.
Lastly, the approximately 50 participants of the protest conducted a performance called the “Flag of Solidarity,” where they wrote messages of Ukrainian peace on their palms and raised them in the shape of a hand. They stood facing the Russian embassy and chanted the slogan “Stop the war. Stand with Ukraine” at two-minute intervals for a total of ten times, concluding the rally.
