THE KUKMIN DAILY

Asian religious women, coming together for a Women’s Forum prior to the assembly of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP), resolved to take the lead in strengthening peace and human rights in Asia. The more than 250 women at the forum, held at Songdo Convencia on Central-ro in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, took part in seminars and theme lectures on “peace education and reconciliation,” “human rights and happiness,” and “development and environment.”

Following those, they drafted a resolution of the Women’s Forum based on the results of their discussions. In the draft, they stated, “In order to eradicate all kinds of religious discrimination and violence, women will take the lead in educating for peace, and will endeavor to protect human dignity and peace.” The final resolution will be announced at the ACRP Assembly on the 28th.

“Women, as mothers, are persons with hearts that can care well for others,” said Lilian Suzon, chair of the ACRP Women’s Committee, at the closing ceremony. “Women should act for each country and each religion in realizing mutual harmony.”

ACRP Executive Director Kim Seong-gon (National Assembly member, New Political Alliance for Democracy), said in his message of encouragement, “Unlike men, women are good at multitasking, and women act more positively than men in safeguarding peace.” He urged, “More women should assume roles as protectors of peace.”

The ACRP Women’s Forum was a pre-assembly event of the 8th ACRP Assembly, which is taking place from August 26~29. ACRP, founded in 1974 by religious leaders from different countries for the purpose of promoting peace and harmony among religions in Asia, has held its assembly every five years since 1976. This assembly, being held in Korea for the first time in 28 years, is expected to adopt a declaration containing proposals such as a “cooperative program to solve problems related to peace, human rights and environment in Asia,” and a “program for peace in the Korean Peninsula and East Asia.”

Article and photo by reporter Jin Samyeol (samuel@kmib.co.kr) from Incheon, with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)


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