FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2025
Contact:
Solby Lim, Communications Associate
solby@womencrossdmz.org
Women Cross DMZ, a leading organization in the global movement for peace on the Korean Peninsula, has released a new report, Women’s Rights Under the Division System in Korea, shedding light on the urgent and often overlooked consequences of Korea’s division on women’s lives.
The report — which is being released to coincide with International Women’s Day, the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, and the 80th year of Korea’s division — exposes the profound and persistent impact of the division system, from the ongoing militarization of the peninsula to human rights violations suffered by women in both Koreas. Drawing from historical and contemporary analysis, the report highlights key issues such as the presence of U.S. military bases, the gendered consequences of landmines and unexploded ordnance, and the enduring trauma of family separation.
Among the key findings:
- Human rights issues exacerbated by the 80-year division: Landmines and unexploded ordnance remnants in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) continue to cause significant harm to civilians, particularly women. Women victims of landmines remain underserved, and gender-responsive measures are lacking in demining operations.
- Militarization’s gendered impact: The ongoing U.S. military presence in South Korea and the expansion of military bases have significant human rights implications, particularly for women living in military camptowns, where they experience systemic sexual violence and exploitation. Furthermore, the expansion of U.S. military bases has displaced local farming communities, further exacerbating the plight of women farmers.
- The ongoing trauma of family separation: Millions of Korean families remain divided by the Korean War, with opportunities for reunification dwindling as separated family members age. Reunions have stalled since the early 2000s, leaving families to rely on private brokers or limited government programs to locate loved ones. The U.S. travel ban on North Korea has also prevented Korean Americans from reuniting with their loved ones.
“This report makes clear that the division system is not just a geopolitical issue; it’s a human rights crisis with real and devastating impacts on women’s lives,” said Cathi Choi, Executive Director of Women Cross DMZ. “Any effort toward peace on the Korean Peninsula must center women’s voices and experiences.”
“South Korea’s women’s rights groups have long highlighted how Korea’s division system harms women’s rights and gender equality,” said Youngmi Cho, former Executive Director of the Korean Women’s Movement for Peace, Executive Committee Member of the Christian Conference of Asia, and contributor to the report. “Women’s Rights Under the Division System in Korea reinforces why women’s leadership is crucial to ending the Korean War.”
“Women have been at the forefront of protesting U.S. military base expansion in South Korea, showing how militarism has particular impacts on women’s human rights,” said YouKyoung Ko, Policy Director of Pyeongtaek Peace Center and a contributor to the report. “It’s time we took a more holistic view of human rights, and what is being sacrificed in the name of ‘national security.’”
“Human rights have been weaponized ever since the Cold War. Addressing the gendered impacts of Korea’s division system requires a holistic approach that centers the people, building transnational partnerships to amplify women’s demands for peace,” said Suzy Kim, a professor of Korean history at Rutgers University and contributor to the report. “Only through solidarity across borders can we end war and militarism on the Korean Peninsula.”
“Women in Korea have been living in the shadow of unresolved war for more than 70 years, bearing the burdens of militarization, division, and separation,” said Jung-ah Lee, Standing Representative of Gyeonggi Women’s Association United and a contributor to the report. “Their voices must be heard if we are to create a sustainable and lasting peace.”
The report provides a set of recommendations for governments and intergovernmental bodies to address these human rights concerns. It calls for a more comprehensive approach to human rights that prioritizes the needs and agency of the Korean people, and women in particular, including accountability for militarized sexual violence, legislation that addresses the gendered impact of landmines, the inclusion of women in peace and security initiatives, and renewed diplomatic efforts to reunite separated families.
Women Cross DMZ is urging the two Korean governments and the international community to take immediate action to address the gendered impacts of Korea’s ongoing division and to work toward sustainable peace on the peninsula.
The full report, Women’s Rights Under the Division System in Korea, is available for download here.
REPORT LAUNCH EVENTS:
Webinar
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Time: 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST / 10 am Korea (Thursday, March 6)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Registration: bit.ly/dskreport
Join Women Cross DMZ for a webinar discussing the key findings of the newly released report, “Women’s Rights Under the Division System in Korea.” The report sheds light on the often overlooked consequences of Korea’s division, exposing the militarization, human rights violations, and family separations that continue to impact women’s lives today. This webinar is a must-attend for policymakers, activists, scholars, journalists, and anyone passionate about human rights, peace, and gender justice.
Speakers:
- Cathi Choi, Executive Director, Women Cross DMZ
- Youngmi Cho, Executive Committee Member, Christian Conference of Asia, Former Executive Director, Korean Women’s Movement for Peace
- Lee Jung Ah, Standing Representative, Gyeonggi Women’s Association United
- Lee Jae Jung, National Assembly member, ROK
CSW Panel [Open to the public]
Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Time: 8:30-10:00am EST
Location: New York City, UN Church Center, 10th Floor (777 UN Plaza, New York NY 10017)
Registration: https://ngocsw69forum.events.whova.com/registration/
Description
This ESJF and WCDMZ session highlights the urgent need for accountability and global adoption of key Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) mechanisms, including UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the U.S. WPS Act. Drawing on cases like “comfort women” in Asia, Sepur Zarco, and South Korean landmine survivors, panelists will discuss the role of WPS mechanisms in addressing the devastating impact of war, militarism, and post-conflict realities on women and families. WCDMZ will also share the report, Women’s Rights Under the Division System, with groundbreaking analysis and research from Korean women.
Speakers:
- Cathi Choi, Women Cross DMZ
- Sung Sohn, Education for Social Justice Foundation
- Mimi Han, World YWCA
- Renee Copock, Crowley Fleck PLLP
- Marie Berry, Director of the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy (moderator)
About Women Cross DMZ
Women Cross DMZ is a global movement of women mobilizing to end the Korean War and. Through grassroots advocacy, international solidarity, and policy engagement, the organization works to advance peace, women’s rights, and demilitarization on the Korean Peninsula.