A Letter Jointly Addressed to Donald Trump, President of the United States of America and Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Dear Mr. President and Mr. Chairman:
We are women leaders representing a range of fields from 43 countries. We welcome the imminent occasion of the 2019 DPRK-USA Vietnam Summit held in Hanoi from February 27-28. We are hopeful about its potential to achieve a major breakthrough toward ending 70 years of hostile relations between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea). Your mutual commitment to ushering in a new era of peace in Korea will not only benefit 80 million people living on the Peninsula but will also help transform unresolved historical tensions throughout the region.
We are heartened by US Special Representative Stephen Biegun’s remarks about the goals of the Vietnam summit: “[To] build trust between our two countries and advance further progress in parallel on the Singapore summit objectives of transforming relations, establishing a permanent peace regime on the peninsula, and complete denuclearization.”
We urge you to take three steps in Vietnam toward transforming US-DPRK relations:
- Declare an end to the Korean War and a new era of peace.
- Establish an inclusive peace process toward the signing of a peace agreement with civil society participation, especially women’s organizations; and
- Normalize relations by a) establishing reciprocal liaison offices; b) lifting sanctions that harm vulnerable individuals; and c) facilitating people-to-people engagement, including reunions between Korean-Americans with their families in North Korea.
The world is looking to you to fulfill the promise made by the two Korean leaders to transform the Korean Peninsula “into a land of peace free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threats.”
We are writing now to stress that, in order to truly achieve a lasting peace that would endure as a legacy for Korea and the world, an inclusive peace process with women at the table is essential. As decades of studies have shown, women’s participation significantly increases the probability that a peace agreement will be signed and will last far longer than otherwise. Indeed, peace agreements are 36 percent more likely to succeed when civil society representatives, including women’s groups, meaningfully participate. Recognizing this, President Trump signed into lawthe Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017, signaling U.S. commitment to increase women’s participation in peace processes to prevent, end and rebuild after conflict, which passed with bi-partisan Congressional support. Now is the time to implement it.
Our representatives from the global campaign Korea Peace Now! Women Mobilizing to End the War will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, to be present during the summit. Drawing upon their extensive experience in international peace-building, we respectfully request your assistance in securing a meeting for them with US-DPRK negotiators to discuss an inclusive peace process that includes women at all levels. Their insight and expertise will prove to be invaluable to this delicate and challenging peace process.
Our representatives can be reached at the following:
Christine Ahn, Executive Director, Women Cross DMZ, christine@womencrossdmz.org
Liz Bernstein, Executive Director, Nobel Women’s Initiative, lbernstein@secure.nobelwomensinitiative.org
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely on behalf of the global women’s campaign,
Alice Walker, Author and Activist, USA
Gloria Steinem, Feminist Author and Activist, USA
Jane Fonda, Actress and activist, USA
Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize (1997), USA
Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Prize (1976), Ireland
Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize (2003), Iran
Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize (2011), Yemen
Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize (2011), Liberia
Sally Armstrong, Journalist, Canada
Christine Ahn, Women Cross DMZ, Executive Director, USA
Liz Bernstein, Nobel Women’s Initiative, Executive Director, Canada
Abigail Disney, Fork Films, Filmmaker, USA
Abigail Richards, USA
AhnKim JeongAe, Women Making Peace, South Korea
Aijen Poo, National Domestic Workers United, USA
Aimee Allison, President, USA
Aiyoung Choi, Board Chair, Women Cross DMZ, USA
Altantsetseg Noosgoi, “Blue Banner” NGO, National University of Mongolia, Mongolia
Amanda Huff, USA
Anam Matariyeh, USA
Anastasia Baranikova, ADV Nevelskoy Maritime State University, Russian Federation
Anita Davidson, Australia
Ann Patterson, Peace people, Northern Ireland
Ann Wright, Veterans for Peace, Colonel, USA
Anne Catherine Sutherland, Environmental Defender, Australia
Anne Niec, McMaster University, Canada
Annie Matundu-Mbambi, WILPF- DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo
Ariel Zarate, USA
Arla S. Ertz, SF Women in Black, USA
Asmin, KI, Project Officer, Philippines
Beckie Malay, Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), Global Co-Chair, Philippines
Bethany Hall, Comedian, USA
Betty A. Reardon, International Institute on Peace Education, Founding Director Emeritus, USA
Betty Traynor, WILPF, USA
Bev Johnson, Canada
Bok Cha lissel, Remembering Sewol (NRW)/Germany, Member, Germany
Bokyoung KOO, Houston Sewol Hambi (S.P.Ring solidarity), Coordinator, USA
Bonnie Gorman RN, MAPA, Board, USA
Bonnie Jenkins, Women of Color Advancing Peace Security, Founder and President, USA
Bridget Osakwe, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), National Network Coordinator, Nigeria
Carol Cohn, Director, Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights, USA
Carole Woodhall, Canada
Catherine Killough, Ploughshares Fund, USA
Celeste M Howard, USA
Chantal Dothey, Peace Action, MD, USA
Charlotte Koons, CODEPINK Long Island NY, USA
Chris Henderson, WILPF Australia, President, Australia
Cho Young Hee, Women Making Peace, South Korea
Cindy Wiesner, Grassroots Global Jusitce Alliance, National Coordinator, USA
Claire Greensfelder, NoWarWithNorthKorea.org, Co-Director, USA
Coleen Baik, Artist, USA
Cora Weiss, International Peace Bureau, USA
Corazon Valdez Fabros, International Peace Bureau, Vice President, Philippines
Cynda Collins Arsenault, USA
Daryl Denning, USA
Deann Borshay Liem, Filmmaker, USA
Debbie Kim, UK
Denise Kellahan, Unifor, Canada
Dr. Rebecca Johnson, Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy/ICAN , UK
Dr. Cynthia Cockburn, Women in Black (London), UK
Dr. Simone Chun, Alliance of Scholars Concerned about Korea, Lecturer, Northeastern University, USA
Ejay Kim
Eleonore Veillet Chowdhury, USA
Elene Rusetskaia, Women’s Information Center, Director, Georgia
Ellen E Barfield, Veterans For Peace, US
Ellen Friedman, Compton Foundation, Executive Director, USA
Ellen Judd, University of Manitoba; Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Distinguished Professor, Canada
Elliott, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, UK
Emily Bush, USA
Emily Rubino, Peace Action New York State, Director of Policy and Outreach, USA
Erica Fein, Win Without War, Advocacy Director, USA
Erica M Barry, USA
Euphemia Akos Dzathor, African Women’s Active Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change (AWANICh), Ghana
Ewa Eriksson Fortier, Humanitarian (retired), France
Favianna Rodriguez, Artist, USA
Gay Dillingham, Earthstone International /CNS Communications, CEO, USA
Gaylene Sloane, USA
Georgina Etelka Bencsik, Activist, Advocate and Consultant, Canada
Gladys Edmonds, England
Grace Lee, Canada
Greet Vanaerschot, Pax Christi International, Secretary General, Belgium
Greg Samata, Samata LLC, CEO, USA
GWI-OK KIM, Women Making Peace, South Korea
Gwyn Kirk, Women for Genuine Security, USA
Haemee yoon, USA
Hallilonasser M. Abdulwahid, Kapamagogopa Incorporated, Community Facilitator, Philippines
Dr. Hanan Awwad, WILPF Palestine, President, Palestine
Hilda Geissler, WILPF, Australia
Hye Jung Park, Philadelphia Committee for Peace and Justice in Asia, USA
Hyun Sook Lee, Women’s Forum for Peace & Diplomacy, Honorary Representative, Republic of Korea
Inrae You, International Department Director, Korea
J Stainsby, Canada
Jacqueline Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation, Executive Director, USA
Jacqueline King, Massachusetts Peace Action, Mass. Peace Action Newsletter Editor, USA
Jacquelyn Wells, Women Cross DMZ, Entrepreneur, USA
Jae Choe, One heart for Justice, San Francisco, USA
Jamila, WILPF Afghanistan, President, Afghanistan
Jane Gabriel, Fifty-Fifty Publishing, UK
Janet, NS Voice of Women for Peace, Canada
Janet Hudgins, Canada
Janet Weil, USA
Janette McLeod, Australia
Janis Alton, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Co-Chair, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Canada
Jasmin Nario-Galace, Center for Peace Education, Miriam College, Philippines
Jean Chung (정연진), Action One Korea, Founder, USA
Jennifer H. Moeller, Senior Director, USA
Jim Loveland, USA
Joan Smith, Voices of Women for Peace Nova Scotia Chapter, Canada
Jodie Evans, CODEPINK, Co-founder, USA
Joy Hinckley, Australia
JT, Takagi, USA
Judge Julie Tang Ret., “Comfort Women” Justice Coalition, Co-chair, USA
Judith Bello, United National Antiwar Coalition, USA
Judith Mirkinson, President, “Comfort Women” Justice Coalition, USA
Judy Nakadegawa, WILPF East Bay, USA
Judy Saumweber, USA
Juliann E Pinto, USA
Julienne Lusenge, Solidarité Féminine pour la Paix et le Développement Intégral – SOFEPADI and Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises – FFC, Democratic Republic of Congo
Jung ha Kim, USA
Karen Allen, Australia
Karen Nieuwland, Canada
Karen Stansbery, USA
Kate Kizer, Win Without War, Policy Director, USA
Kathrin Winkler, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Canada
Kathy Damm, Australia
Kay Waren, USA
Kaye Foster, Senior Advisor, USA
Kelly Campbell, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Executive Director, USA
Kelsey Whiting-Jones, Strategist, USA
Kerry McGovern, WILPF, Treasurer, Australia
Kevin McBride, Pax Christi Aotearoa-New Zealand, New Zealand
Khadija Abawajy
Kim, Jeongsoo, Women Making Peace, Standing Representative, South Korea (ROK)
Kim, Young Soon, Korea Women’s Associations United (KWAU), South Korea
Kozue Akibayashi, WILPF Japan, Japan
Kwan W Nam, USA
KyongJa Kay Cho, United Church of Canada, Canada
Lani Roberts, Australia
Lau Kin Chi, Professor, China
Lee Jungok, Women’s Forum for Peace and Diplomacy, Representative, Korea
Lee, Jeong-Eun, Yonsei University, Instructor, South-Korea
Le Ly Hayslip, Global Village Foundation, Author/Peacemaker/Philanthropist, USA
Leonnie Blumson, Australia
Leslie Potter, USA
Rev. Liberato C. Bautista, The United Methodist Church
Linda Moh, S.P.Ring, IN
Lisa Linda S. Natividad, Guahan Coalition for Peace and Justice, President, Guam
Lisa Pelletti Clark, International Peace Bureau, Italy
Lisa VeneKlasen, Just Associates (JASS), Executive Director, USA
Liss Schanke, WILPF Norway, Norway
Liza Maza, Gabriela Women’s Coalition, Philippines
Liz Fisher, Nobel Women’s Initiative, USA
Liza Hester, USA
Lois M. Wilson, United Church of Canada, Canada
Lourdes Beneria, Professor Emerita, Spain
Lukudu William, Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), Programs Manager, South Sudan
Lyn Adamson, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Co-Chair, CanadaLynne Dobson, Philanthropist, humanitarian photographer, USA
Lysa John, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Secretary-General, USA
M.Brinton Lykes, Boston College, Professor & Co-Director, Center for Human Rights & International Justice, USA
Madeleine Rees, WILPF, South Africa
Maja Vitas Majstorovic, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), Serbia
Marci Shimoff, USA
Maree Klemm, WILPF Australia, Peace Advocate, Australia
Margo Okazawa-Rey, Mills College, Barbara Lee Distinguished Chair in Women’s Leadership, USA
Margrethe Tingstad, WILPF, Vice-president, Norway
Marianne Hanson, University of Queensland, Associate Professor of International Relations, Australia
Marie Berry, University of Denver, Assistant Professor, USA
Marie Dennis, Pax Christi International, Co-President, USA
Mary Byron, Cloud Nine Quilts, Owner, USA
Mary E. Hunt, Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER), Co-director, USA
Mary Welsh, Director of Donor Relations, USA
Mary-Wynne Ashford, Past Co-President International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Doctor, Canada
MaryAnn Denning, USA
Mavic Cabrera Balleza, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, Chief Executive Officer, USA
Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK, Cofounder, USA
Megan Hutching, WILPF, Aotearoa (New Zealand) Section, President, Aotearoa New Zealand
Meghan Donovan, Peace Activist, USA
Meri Joyce, GPPAC, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), Northeast Asia Regional Liaison Officer, Japan
Michael Henry, Australia
Mimi Han, World YWCA /National YWCA of Korea, Vice President, South Korea
Min song, S. P. Ring, USA
Mina Watanabe, Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace(WAM), Director, 日本
Miriam Ching Yoon Louie, USA
Misuk Nam, One Heart for Justice, USA
Musimbi Kanyoro, Global Fund for Women, President, Kenya/USA
Myeongsuk Lee, USA
Myung Ji, KANCC, Clergy, USA
Nada Drobnjak, MP, Montenegro
Nadia Hallgren, Filmmaker, USA
Namsook Kwon, Ireland Candlelight Action, Republic of Ireland
Nancy Word, President NBW Partnership, USA
Na-Young Lee, Professor, South Korea
Neema Namadamu, Hero Women Rising, Executive Director, Democratic Republic of Congo
Nkurunziza Justine, Mouvement des Femmes et Filles pour la Pour la Paix et la Securite au Burundi, Canada
Noor Ul ain, Pakistan Red Crescent Society Gilgit Baltistan, Provincial Secretary, Pakistan
Nouha Ghosn, WILPF Lebanon, President, Lebanon
Noura Erakat, George Mason University, Palestinian Human Rights Attorney and Assistant Professor, USA
Nur Aisyah Maullidah, Youth Woman for Peace and Leadership, Indonesia
One Heart for Justice, USA
Oxfam
PARK HYUNSUN, Women Making Peace, South Korea
Pat Cunningham, Missionary Society of Saint Columban, South Korea
Patricia Curran, USA
Patricia Guerrero, Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas, ABA Human Rights Award 2017, Colombia
Patricia Heather-Lea, USA
Patricia Talbot, The United Church of Canada, Team Leader, Global Partnerships, Canada
Pauline Tweedie, Canada
Pax Christi – Pilipinas
Pax Christi – Asia-Pacific
Penny Rosenwasser, USA
Phyllis A Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies, Fellow, USA
Radha Tsaniyah Zakariah, Girl Ambassador for Peace, Indonesia
Rebecca Shaw, WILPF Australia, Australia
Remembering Sewol(NRW)/Germany, Germany
Ririn Anggraeni, Girl Ambassador for Peace Poso, Indonesia
Rita Manandhar, National Campaign For Sustainable Development, Nepal
Robert Richard, PO-2 USNR, USA
Rodalenne Kay, Mary Our Help TIW Cebu, Philippines
Roz Isaac, Canada
Safaa Elagib Adam Ayoub, Gender Adviser, Sudan
Sally E Jones, Peace Action Fund of New York State, Chair, USA
Saloni Singh, Didi Bahini, President, Nepal
Sandy Greenberg, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Canada
SANGWOO LEE, USA
Sarita Gupta, AFL-CIO, USA
Seokjoo Kim, USA
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), Fiji
Shawn Kim, One Heart for Justice, USA
Sherry Gorelick, Professor Emerita, Rutgers University, Women in Black, USA
Shirine Jurdi, WILPF, WILPF MENA Regional Representative, Lebanon
Sofia Rose Wolman, USA
Soojin Kim
Sophia Dianne C. Garcia,Young Women+ for Peace and Leadership-Philippines, Coordinator, Philippines
Su Amin, WILPF, Australia
Sungeun Kim, Peacemaking Women, South Korea
Su Yon Pak, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, USA
Sue Wailoo, Scotland
Suellen Bradfield, Voice of Women, Canada
Susan Stout, Canada
Suzanne Patzer, Columbus Free Press, USA
Suzy Kim, Associate Professor of Korean History, USA
Swati, United Nations Association of Australia Queensland, Treasurer, Australia
Sylvia Rodriguez Case, Peace Action Fund of New York State, Peace Action Fund of NYS Board Member, USA
Tess Newton Cain, TNC Pacific Consulting, Australia
Tim Carpentier, Canada
Trea Yip, TY Commercial Group, CEO, USA
Unzu Lee, Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea, USA
Valerie Plame, Mother, Author, former CIA operations officer, USA
Vana Kim Hansen, Center for Korean Peninsula Neutralization, Co-Chair, USA
Victoria M McFadyen, Peace Action Bay Ridge, Coordinator, USA
Victoria Ross, Western New York Peace Center, Director, USA
Visaka Dharmadasa, Association of War Affected Women, Chairperson, Sri Lanka
Wendi Deetz, Director of HR and IT, USA
Wendy Flannery, Believing Women for a Culture of Peace, Australia
Women for Genuine Security
Yeo Hyesook, Women Making Peace, South Korea
Yifat Susskind, MADRE, Executive Director, USA
Young WILPF Australia, Australia
Young Mii Cho, Korean Women’s Movement, Executive Director, Republic of Korea
Yousuf, Bangladesh
Wang Xuan, China
Zohl de Ishtar, Australia