IWPG GLOBAL REGION 3 CELEBRATES WOMEN’S PEACE EDUCATION GRADUATES IN FOUR NATIONS

61 women from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan complete transformative peace leadership course

On July 26, the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), under the leadership of Heo Eun-Ju, Regional Director of IWPG Global Region 3, hosted an online Women’s Peace Education Completion Ceremony honouring 61 graduates from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The programme aimed to empower women to take an active role in peacebuilding and to nurture female leaders who can make a lasting impact on the peace process. In her congratulatory address,

Heo Eun-Ju said, “I sincerely congratulate all of you who have completed this course and thank everyone here for your passion and effort. I was deeply moved to hear how you adjusted your schedules and completed assignments despite the challenges and busy lives you lead. I hope you will continue to passionately nurture new peace education participants in your regions and carry out various peace activities together to achieve complete peace. When the women of our global village unite, peace is sure to come. What you have achieved today is a new starting point toward a better world.”

Batool Kazmi, last year’s Outstanding Peace Lecturer, encouraged the graduates: “Completing this course means you have chosen the mission of leading, educating, and inspiring the world. The path we must walk together includes promoting fairness and understanding among communities, empowering women and youth through education and dialogue, and building solidarity beyond borders, faiths, and cultures. I hope your voices will resonate with the spirit of peace.”

Amber Shahzadi, Director of Academics at EQUIP School System and a graduate from Pakistan, reflected on her learning experience: “The most memorable assignment was designing a family peace policy. With my family, we created a ‘Family Peace Tree,’ and my five-year-old daughter suggested the rule ‘showing respect.’ This activity reminded me of the truth that peace begins at home. Peace grows through loving actions, understanding words, and the effort to listen.”

Certificates were awarded to participants who excelled in assignments and speeches, with a special award presented to the IWPG Pune Peace Committee in India for its efforts to promote the Women’s Peace Education Programme and the International Loving Peace Art Competition. These initiatives brought around 70 members into the peace education programme and engaged over 1,500 students in experiencing a culture of peace through art.

Concluding the ceremony, Ajuli Tulsyan, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Edge & Essence (a leading global digital magazine), delivered a pledge as a new peace lecturer, affirming her commitment to continuing peace activities in the future.

IWPG is an international women’s peace organisation and an NGO registered with both the UN DGC and UN ECOSOC. The group actively pursues initiatives such as the International Women Peace Network and spreading peace culture, while collaborating with UN women’s organisations to advocate for the legislation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).