Second-term Advisory Committee on “Action with Women and Peace Initiative” Launched

On January 21, the second-term Advisory Committee on the "Action with Women and Peace Initiative" was established. Comprising 13 experts from academia and civil society who engage in activities in such fields as the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda; human rights; development cooperation; and cyber security, this second-term Advisory Committee will provide a range of advice as the Foreign Ministry implements the initiative.

The Korean government established the "Action with Women and Peace Initiative" in 2018 with a view to contributing more to the international community's discussions on the WPS agenda and to its efforts to eradicate sexual violence in conflict. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hosted the "International Conference on Action with Women and Peace" annually since 2019 and implemented development cooperation projects with the "Action with Women and Peace Fund" with a view to safeguarding women in conflict situations and empowering women.

※ The WPS agenda is an international agenda that seeks to protect women in conflict situations and expand women's participation in peacebuilding processes. Discussions on the agenda began in the 1990s, amidst growing and deepening regional conflicts. In 2000, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, which calls for the protection of women from sexual violence in armed conflict and a greater participation of women in peacekeeping activities.

At the luncheon meeting with the second-term Advisory Committee members later in the day, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jina emphasized that, against the backdrop of increasing threats to peace and human rights around the world and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 last year, it has become more important for the international community to discuss the WPS agenda and for civil society to participate in these discussions. On that note, she expressed her sincere hope for even closer communication with the Advisory Committee members, so that the "Action with Women and Peace Initiative" can continue to play a valuable part in the shaping of an integrated discourse linking key international issues.

The newly launched second-term Advisory Committee is expected to serve as a forum for sharing expert perspectives and communicating on the future direction of the ninth-year "Action with Women and Peace Initiative" in the face of the rapidly changing international landscape and new global challenges such as those posed by AI and other new technologies. Building on these activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue efforts to play a more proactive role in areas such as human rights, international peace and security and thereby further enhance Korea's status as a responsible global power.