The International Women’s Peace Group brought together global voices for peace at its “2026 Only Peace Conference”, held virtually on April 11 under the theme “Her Voice of Peace: How Have Women Sustained Peace?”.
Hosted by IWPG Global Region 2 and led by Director Seoyeon Lee, the online gathering saw participation from around 200 attendees across 15 countries, highlighting the growing global movement centred on women-led peacebuilding initiatives.
Women at the Heart of Peacebuilding
The conference opened with a keynote by Ergogie Tesfaye, Ethiopia’s Minister of Women and Social Affairs, who emphasised the foundational role women play in sustaining peace.
She noted that peace is not maintained solely through formal systems, but through communities, families and individuals – with women consistently at the centre of these efforts. She further stressed that women’s participation must move beyond recognition and be formally embedded into systems to achieve long-term global peace.
Real Stories from Across the World
The conference featured speakers from diverse backgrounds who shared real-life experiences of promoting peace in their communities.
Australian human rights lawyer Melinda Jones reflected on collective action, highlighting how unity and shared purpose can drive meaningful change. From Armenia, Anna Meliksetyan spoke about peace through the lens of the deaf community, describing it as an active process of dialogue rather than silence.
Voices from Lebanon, including Patricia Elias and Josianne Hajj Mussa, highlighted the urgency of global conflicts and reinforced that peace requires continuous effort and conscious daily choices.
Australia-based community leader Mujgan Tahery added that peace begins internally, growing through mutual respect and understanding before extending outward into society.
From Dialogue to Action
A defining aspect of the conference was its focus on action. Rather than remaining a platform for discussion, participants were encouraged to commit to real-world initiatives, including peace education programs, campaigns and storytelling projects.
Interactive sessions, including open mic discussions, brought together professionals from government, academia, media and civil society, fostering collaboration and shared responsibility in advancing peace efforts.
This approach marked a shift from viewing peace as an individual concept to embracing it as a collective, action-driven responsibility.
Strengthening Global Collaboration
The conference also opened doors for future partnerships, with Minister Tesfaye expressing interest in connecting IWPG with women’s organisations in Ethiopia to further strengthen peace initiatives.
In her closing remarks, Director Seoyeon Lee подчеркнула the importance of collective action, stating that peace already exists in everyday choices, but must now be expanded through collaboration and structured engagement.
A Growing Global Movement
Operating across more than 120 countries with hundreds of partner organisations, IWPG continues to expand its reach through education, advocacy and international cooperation.
The 2026 Only Peace Conference reinforced a clear message – that sustainable peace is not a distant ideal, but an achievable goal when individuals, communities and nations come together with purpose and action.
