Above Photo: Pixabay
Dear President Trump:
We are women leaders from 40 countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and many from nations that fought in the Korean War. We are from academia, business, civil society and the military, and represent a diversity of ethnicities, nationalities, religions, and political views. We are united by our belief that diplomacy is the only way to resolve the nuclear crisis and threat of war now facing the Korean peninsula.
On July 27, 1953, leaders from the United States, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and China signed the Armistice Agreement to halt the Korean War. They promised to re-convene within three months to replace the ceasefire with a binding peace agreement. This never occurred and an entrenched state of war has ever since defined inter-Korean and U.S.-D.P.R.K. relations. This war must end.
Korea is the only nation to remain divided as a result of WWII. For three generations, millions of families have been separated by the world’s most militarized border. We urge you to do the following to avert war in Korea and bring about a long-desired peace on the peninsula:
1. Negotiate a freeze of North Korea’s nuclear and long-range ballistic program in exchange for a U.S. security guarantee that would include suspending U.S.-South Korea military exercises.
2. Initiate a peace process with North Korea, South Korea and China to replace the 1953 Armistice Agreement with a binding peace treaty to end the Korean War. Women must be significantly represented in the peace process in accordance with the spirit of UNSCR 1325.
3. Support citizen diplomacy to heal the legacies of the Korean War by establishing a liaison office in Washington and Pyongyang to facilitate retrieval of U.S. Korean War servicemen’s remains and Korean-American family reunions.
Since 1950, the Korean peninsula has been threatened with nuclear weapons, missile tests, and military exercises that have only served to make 75 million Korean people less secure. In the United States and on both sides of the Korean De-Militarized Zone, the absence of a binding peace accord fuels fear and economic deprivation caused by diverting public resources in preparation for war, including deploying the controversial THAAD missile defense system in South Korea. This endless militarization must stop.
Peace is the most powerful deterrent of all. We urge you to take steps now to help formally end the Korean War with a peace treaty. Doing so would lead to greater peace and security for the Korean peninsula and region and halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons. We look to you to accomplish what successive U.S. Presidents have failed to do for seven decades: establish peace on the Korean peninsula.
Sincerely Yours,
1. Abigail Disney, USA, Filmmaker and Philanthropist 2. Aiyoung Choi, USA, Steering Committee Member, Women Cross DMZ www.womencrossdmz.org P.O. Box 99406, Emeryville, CA 94662 info@womencrossdmz.org 3. Alice Slater, USA, Coordinating Committee Member, World Beyond War 4. Alice Walker, USA, Author and Activist 5. Amina Mama, Nigeria/USA, Professor, University of California, Davis 6. Amira Ali, Ethiopia, Author and Activist 7. Ana Oliveira, USA, Philanthropist 8. Anasuya Sengupta, India, Feminist author and activist, co-founder Whose Voices? 9. Angela Davis, USA, Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz 10. Ani DiFranco, USA, Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Multi-instrumentalist & Businesswoman 11. Anne Delaney, USA, Artist and Philanthropist 12. Anuradha Mittal, USA, Executive Director, Oakland Institute 13. Ann Patterson, Northern Ireland, Peace People 14. Ann Wright, USA, Retired US Army Colonel & Diplomat 15. Anne Beldo, Norway, Lawyer and Partner of Hegg & Co. Law Firm 16. Annette Groth, Germany, Member of Bundestag 17. Annie Isabel Fukushima, USA, Professor, University of Utah 18. Audrey McLaughlin, Canada, Former President, Socialist International Women 19. Betty Reardon, USA, Founding Director of the International Institute on Peace Education 20. Brinton Lykes, USA, Professor, Boston College 21. Charlotte Wiktorsson, Sweden, Swedish Physicians Against War 22. Christine Ahn, USA, International Coordinator, Women Cross DMZ 23. Chung-Wha Hong, USA, Executive Director, Grassroots International 24. Cindy Wiesner, USA, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance National Coordinator 25. Coleen Baik, USA, Twitter @Design Alumna 26. Cora Weiss, USA, President, Hague Appeal for Peace 27. Cynda Collins Arsenault, USA, Philanthropist, Secure World Foundation 28. Cynthia Enloe, USA, Professor, Clark University 29. Deann Borshay Liem, USA, Filmmaker 30. Don Mee Choi, USA, Poet & Translator, International Women’s Network Against Militarism 31. Dorchen A. Leidholdt, USA, Attorney, Professor, Feminist 32. Ekaterina Zagladina, Russia, Permanent Secretariat, Nobel Peace Summit 33. Elaine H. Kim, USA, Professor, University of California, Berkeley 34. Eleana J. Kim, Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Irvine 35. Ellen Carol DuBois, Professor, History and Gender Studies, University of California, Los Angeles 36. Emilia Castro, Canada, Co-Representative of Intl. Committee, Americas Region, World March of Women 37. Eve Ensler, USA, Playwright 38. Faye Leone, USA, Writer and Editor, International Institute for Sustainable Development 39. Fiona Dove, Netherlands, Executive Director, Transnational Institute 40. Fragkiska Megaloudi, Greece, Journalist 41. Frances Kissling, USA, University of Pennsylvania; former President, Catholics for Choice 42. Francisca de Haan, Netherlands, Professor, Central European University 43. Gabriela Zapata Alvarez, Mexico, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor 44. Gay Dillingham, USA, Filmmaker, Former Advisor to Governor Bill Richardson 45. Glenda Paige, USA, Secretary, Governing Council, Center for Global Nonkilling 46. Gloria Steinem, USA, Writer and Activist, Presidential Medal of Freedom Awardee 47. Grace Cho, USA, Professor, College of Staten Island, City University of New York 48. Gwyn Kirk, USA, Women for Genuine Security 49. Hazel Smith, United Kingdom, Professor, University of Central Lancashire 50. Helen Caldicott, Australia, Founding President of Physicians for Social Responsibility www.womencrossdmz.org P.O. Box 99406, Emeryville, CA 94662 info@womencrossdmz.org 51. Helena Wong, USA, U.S. National Organizer, World March of Women 52. Hope A. Cristobal, Guam, Former Senator 53. Hye-Jung Park, USA, Filmmaker, Community Media Activist 54. Hyaeweol Choi, Australia, Professor, Australian National University 55. Hyunju Bae, Republic of Korea, Central and Executive Committee, World Council of Churches 56. Ingeborg Breines, Norway, Co-President, International Peace Bureau; former Director UNESCO 57. Isabella Sargsyan, Armenia, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly 58. Isabelle Geukens, Netherlands, Executive Director, Women Peacemakers Program 59. Jackie Cabasso, USA, U.S. Mayors for Peace 60. Jane Jin Kaisen, Denmark, Artist and Filmmaker 61. Janis Alton, Canada, Co-Chair, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace 62. Jean Chung, Republic of Korea/USA, Founder, Action for One Korea 63. Jennifer Kwon-Dobbs, USA, Professor, St. Olaf College 64. Jodie Evans, USA, Co-founder, Code Pink 65. Judy Hatcher, USA, Executive Director, Pesticide Action Network North America 66. Judy Rebick, Canada, Former President, National Action Committee on the Status of Women 67. Julie Young, USA, Board Chair, Korean American Story 68. Justine Kwachu Kumche, Cameroon, Executive Director, Women in Alternative Action—WAA 69. Kate Dewes, New Zealand, Former Member of United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters; Co-Director of the Disarmament and Security Centre 70. Kate Hudson, United Kingdom, General Secretary, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament 71. Kavita Ramdas, USA, Ford Foundation 72. Khin Ohmar, Burma/Myanmar, Coordinator, Burma Partnership 73. Kim Ku’ulei Birnie, Hawaii/USA, Women’s Voices, Women Speak 74. Kim Phuc, Canada/Vietnam, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador 75. Kozue Akibayashi, Japan, Intl. President, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom 76. Krassimira Daskalova, Bulgaria, Professor, University of Sofia 77. Krishanti Dharmaraj, USA, Executive Director, Center for Women’s Global Leadership 78. Kyeong-Hee Choi, USA, Professor, University of Chicago 79. Laura Hein, USA, Professor, Northwestern University 80. Leymah Gbowee, Liberia, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate 81. Lindsey German, United Kingdom, National Convener, Stop the War Coalition 82. Lisa Natividad, Guam, President, Guahan Coalition for Peace and Justice 83. Liza Maza, Philippines, former Parliamentarian; Gabriella Network 84. Hon. Rev. Lois Wilson, Canada, Senator; Former Moderator of United Church of Canada 85. Luisa Morgantini, Italy, Member, European Parliament 86. Lydia Alpizar, Mexico, Executive Director, AWID (Association of Women’s Rights in Development) 87. Madeline Rees, United Kingdom, Secretary General, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom 88. Mairead Maguire, Northern Ireland, 1976 Nobel Peace Laureate 89. Maja Vitas Majstorovic, Serbia, Gender Coordinator, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict 90. Margo Okazawa-Rey, USA, Professor Emerita, San Francisco State University 91. Marilyn Waring, New Zealand, Professor of Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology 92. Marilyn Young, USA, Professor, New York University 93. Mary C. Murphree, USA, Sociologist 94. Medea Benjamin, USA, Co-founder, Code Pink 95. Meenakshi Gopinath, India, Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) 96. Megan Burke, USA, Director, International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munitions Coalition 97. Meredith Woo, USA, Open Society Foundations 98. Meri Joyce, Australia, Regional Coordinator, Global Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict www.womencrossdmz.org P.O. Box 99406, Emeryville, CA 94662 info@womencrossdmz.org 99. Mimi Han, Republic of Korea/USA, International Vice President, YWCA 100. Mimi Kim, USA, Professor, Cal State University, Long Beach 101. Mina Watanabe, Japan, Secretary General, Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace 102. Nada Drobnjak, Montenegro, Member of Parliament 103. Namhee Lee, USA, Professor, University of California, Los Angeles 104. Nan Kim, USA, Professor, University of Wisconsin 105. Nancy Ruth, Canada, Senator 106. Naomi Klein, Canada, Journalist and Activist 107. Netsai Mushonga, Zimbabwe, Commissioner, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission; African Women Active Nonviolence Initiative for Social Change 108. Nighat Said Khan, Pakistan, Executive Chair, DidiBahini 109. Nina Tsikhistavi-Khutsishvili, Georgia, Board Chair, International Center on Conflict and Negotiation 110. Nunu Kidane, USA, Board Member, Priority Africa Network 111. Ouypourn Khuankaew, Thailand, Founder, International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice 112. Patricia Thane, United Kingdom, Professor, Kings College 113. Penny Rosenwasser, USA, Founding Board Member, Jewish Voice for Peace 114. Phyllis Bennis, USA, Director, New Internationalism Project, Institute for Policy Studies 115. Regina Munoz, Sweden, Peace Activist 116. Rose Othieno, Uganda, Executive Director, Center for Conflict Resolution 117. Saloni Singh, Nepal, Executive Chair, DidiBahini 118. Sandra Moran, Guatemala, Co-Representative of Intl. Committee, Americas Region, World March of Women 119. Setsuko Thurlow, Canada, International Educator, Hibakusha/A-Bomb Survivor 120. Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, Fiji, Executive Producer, FemLINKpacific; Board Chair, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict 121. Shirley Douglas, Canada, Actor and Activist 122. Simone Chun, USA, Journalist and Activist 123. Sophie Toupin, Canada, Women Peace and Security Network Canada 124. Sung-ok Lee, USA, Assistant General Secretary, United Methodist Women 125. Suzuyo Takazato, Japan, Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence 126. Suzy Kim, USA, Professor, Rutgers University 127. Taina Bien-Aime, USA, Executive Director, International Coalition Against Trafficking in Women 128. Tani Barlow, USA, Professor, Rice University 129. Terrilee Kekoolani, Ko Pae’Aina Hawai’i, Kanaka Maoli 130. Terry Greenblatt, Israel/USA, The Ploughshares Fund 131. Rev. Unzu Lee, USA, Presbyterian Minister, Women for Genuine Security 132. Valerie Plame, USA, Former Covert CIA Operations Officer 133. Vana Kim, USA, Spiritual Teacher 134. Visaka Dharmadasa, Sri Lanka, Founder, Association of War Affected Women 135. Wei Zhang, USA, Folk Art Researcher 136. Wendi Deetz, USA, Global Fund for Women 137. Winnie Wang, USA, Center for Global Nonkilling 138. Yayoi Tsuchida, Japan, General Secretary, Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs 139. Yoonkyung Lee, Canada, Professor, University of Toronto 140. Youngju Ryu, USA, Professor, University of Michigan
(List in formation) Note: Organizations/Affiliations Listed Only for Identification Purposes
North Korean Women’s Organization
Korea Socialist Women’s Union
South Korean Women’s and Peace Organizations
1. Women Making Peace (평화여성회) 2. Korea Women’s Association United (한국여성단체연합/7개 지부, 30개 회원단체) 3. Korean Association of Women Theologians (한국여신학자협의회) 4. The Council of Churches in Korea, Women’s Committee (한국기독교교회협의회 여성위원회) 5. The Association of Major Superiors of Women Religious in Korea (한국천주교여자수도회 장상연합회) 6. The Righteous People for Korean Unification (새로운 백년을 여는 통일의병) 7. The Gongju Women Human Rights Center (공주 여성인권) 8. The World Council of Churches (세계교회협의회) 9. The Christian Network for Peace and Unification (평화와통일을위한기독인연대) 10. beyondit (너머서) 11. Okedongmu Children in Korea (어린이 어깨동무) 12. Women History Forum (여성역사포럼) 13. Peace Mother (평화어머니회) 14. Kyunggi Women’s Association United (경기여성연합) 15. Kyunggi Goyang-Paju Women Link (경기 고양파주 민우회) 16. Kyunggi Women’s Network (경기여성네트워크) 17. The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (한국정신대문제대책협의회) 18. Korea Women’s Political Solidarity (여세연) 19. Korean Sharing Movement (우리민족서로돕기운동) 20. People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (참여연대) 21. Iftopia (문화세상 이프토피아) 22. Ewha Women’s Alumni Meeting for Democracy (이화민주동우회) 23. Kyunggi Jinbo Women United (경기여성자주연대) 24. Kyunggi Council of Women (경기여성단체협의회) 25. Chungchung-namdo Education Center for Equality (충청남도 성평등교육문화센타) 26. 21st Century Seoul Women’s Union (21세기 서울여성회) 27. Common Nourishing and Education (공동육아와 공동체 교육) 28. Ecumenical Youth Network (에큐메니칼 청년 네트워크) 29. Women Ministers Association of Presbyterian Churches Korea (대한예수교장로회 전국여교역자연합회) 30. Women Ministers’ Association of Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (한국기독교장로회여교역자협의회) 31. Korea Association Methodist Women in Ministry (기독교대한감리회 여교역자회) 32. Korea Methodist Women’s Leadership Institute (감리교여성지도력개발원) 33. Korea Church Women United (한국교회여성연합회) 34. Duraebang (두레방) 35. Sunlit Sisters’ Cente r(햇살사회복지회) 36. United for Women’s Rights Against US Military Bases’ Crime (기지촌여성인권연대) 37. United Voice for the Eradication of Prostitution: Hansori (성매매근절을위한 한소리회)
Women Cross DMZ (www.womencrossdmz.org)
Women Cross DMZ is an organization led by women working globally for peace in Korea. In May 2015, on the 70th anniversary of the division of Korea, Women Cross DMZ led a historic women’s peace walk across the De-Militarized Zone from North to South Korea to draw global attention to the urgent need to end the Korean War with a peace treaty, reunite divided families, and ensure women’s leadership in peacebuilding. Representing 15 countries, our 30-member international delegation walked with 10,000 Korean women on both sides of the DMZ. Our mission is to: 1.) Promote women’s leadership in the peacebuilding process in Korea; 2.) Raise awareness about the urgent need for peace in Korea; and 3.) Expand and deepen relationships with women leaders and organizations in South Korea, North Korea, and around the world.