Declaration of 2015 International Women’s Walk for Peace & Reunification of Korea

Whereas the year 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Korea and also the 70th year since Korea was divided by outside forces;

Whereas the tragedy suffered by the Korean people, the only nation to remain divided as a result of the Cold War, can no longer be ignored by the global community;

Whereas the Demilitarized Zone is one of the most militarized and dangerous conflict areas in the world and the symbol of Korean division;

Whereas peace and stability is an important foundation for human rights;

Whereas the year 2015 also marks the fifteenth anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security which calls for the “full participation of women in the peace process,” including in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, and in peace-building;

Therefore, on this day, May 24, International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament, we women, from North and South Korea and around the world, are walking to invite all concerned to begin a new chapter in Korean history, one marked by dialogue, reconciliation, mutual understanding and respect, and peaceful co-prosperity. We are walking to:

• Call for the official end of the Korean War by replacing the 1953 Armistice Agreement with a peace treaty as stipulated in Article 4 Paragraph 60;
• Help reunite Korean families tragically separated by an artificial, unwanted division;
• Lessen military tensions on the Korean peninsula;
• Appeal to the international community to lift sanctions that harm innocent civilians;
• Decry wartime violence toward women and girls and bring justice for the “comfort women” who survived sexual slavery during WWII;
• Redirect funds devoted to the arms race towards improving people’s welfare and protecting the environment;
• Amplify women’s leadership in the peacebuilding process in Korea and around the world in accordance with international law; and
• Challenge the world to support Korea’s reconciliation and reunification as a cornerstone of building world peace.

We hereby declare our commitment to support the desires of the Korean people and all people of conscience around the world, to work towards the peaceful reconciliation and reunification of the Korean peninsula for a durable peace and security in Korea and the world. By working together with Korean women at all levels, particularly from the grassroots, the International Women’s Walk for Peace and Reunification of Korea, mindful of Korean women’s right to determine the future of a peaceful Korea, will continue its work until these aims are fully achieved.