Report on North and South Korean Women's Reunification Rally

Women's groups from North Korean, South Korean, and overseas Korean populations, with renewed hope and belief, will be actively involved in reunification movements so that the June 15th declaration may be fulfilled.

Source : Women Making Peace

by Gyung-Lan Jung

Chairperson, Committee of International Affairs

Title of Rally: Women's Unification Rally for Peace and the Implementation of the June 15th Joint Declaration

Time: 16-17 October 2002

Venue: Mountain Gumgang (North Korean resort area)

Theme: The Role of Women Peace and Implementation of June 15 (South and

North) Joint Declaration

Participants: 350 women from South Korea, 300 women from North Korea, 20

women from abroad (Total 670)

Slogan: Women! Power of Peace,

Goals of this Rally

1) To raise gender as a mainstream issue in the peace process or reunification

process between the two Koreas through inter-Korean women's exchange programs,

as well as joint efforts and activities to implement the June 15th Joint Declaration

2) To strengthen the role of women as reconciliators to overcome the chronically

hostile relationship between the two Koreas by meeting, singing, dancing, knowing, helping together, building trust and sisterhood, and acting together.

3) To strengthen the role of women as peace makers by demanding and urging any relevant government or party to maintain a peaceful and reunification oriented policy on the Korean peninsula, demanding and urging any related government or party to resolve any conflict relating to Korean peninsula through dialogue and negotiation rather than military action, and acting against pro-war policies of any government or party.

Important Events

October 15

Evening Arrival in Jangjeon Port , North Korea

October 16

Opening Ceremony

Women's Conference for Implementation of June 15th Joint Declaration and

Peace

Arts and Crafts Exhibitions

Recreational Competitions

Joint Banquet

October 17

Sectoral meetings such as Educational, Reunification, Artists Groups

Joint Artistic Performances

Climbing Mt. Gumgang

Closing Ceremony

Departure for South Korea

This rally was an opportunity for women to declare that Koreans can resolve the

question of reunification independently and through the joint efforts of the Korean peoples, who are the masters of the country (see Article One of the Joint Declaration) It was a good chance for Korean women to exchange ideas and promote understanding.

Joint Resolution from the North and South Korean Women's Reunification Rally for Peace and the Implementation of the June 15th Joint Declaration

Today women representatives from North Korea, South Korea, and overseas have gathered here at Gumgang Mountain for the first ever Women's Reunification Rally, full of our desire and will for the unification of Korea. While representatives participated in Women's Conference for Implementation of the June 15th Joint Declaration and Peace through sectoral meetings, joint artistic performances, recreational competitions, arts and crafts exhibitions, and other diverse events, we sincerely realized the vitality of the June 15th Declaration and the urgency for peace and the reunification of our nation. Recognizing the importance of the responsibility and role of women in the resolution of national and reunification issues, we have made the following resolutions in our desire for all women to unite strongly in the understanding of the June 15th

Declaration, and that peace and reunification be realized.

1. Women's groups from North Korean, South Korean, and overseas Korean populations, with renewed hope and belief, will be actively involved in reunification movements so that the June 15th declaration may be fulfilled. The June 15th Joint Declaration has made clear the path for national reunification.

-North Korean, South Korean, and groups of overseas Koreans will actively support the June 15th Declaration and will play the leading role in the reunification movement.

-No matter what the circumstances are before us, North Korean, South Korean, and groups of overseas women will hold on to the basic spirit of and will reject all opposition to the June 15th Joint Declaration.

2. North Korean, South Korean, and overseas representatives will make every effort to prevent a new war and to build peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

- The peace and security of Korea is important for the destiny of this nation and is vital in all of our daily lives.

-North Korean, South Korean, and overseas representatives will not accept any pretense for war, and will unite to keep the country peaceful and safe.

-North Korean, South Korean, and overseas representatives will strengthen the

international cooperation with women in the world, and concentrate the peaceful strength of women all over the world so that there will be no more pain, suffering, or war in this land.

3. North Korean, South Korean, and overseas women's groups will actively pursue coopertaion and unity between women so that peace and reunification come sooner in this land.

-The unity among North Korean, South Korean, and overseas women's groups is an

important means of ensuring enforcement of the June 15th Declaration.

-North Korean, South Korean, and overseas women's groups will strengthen solidarity and unity under the June 15th Declaration, join the strength and voices of women in the process of reunification movement, and work for the continuation of the North South Women's Reunification Rally for above purposes.

-North Korean, South Korean, and overseas Korean women will further promote cooperation, exchanges, contacts, and dialogues between women's groups and individuals, helpful for the joint prosperity and reunification of our nation.

4. North Korean, South Korean, and overseas Korean women will make every effort to establish a framework for a unified society with

gender equality.

-The equal participation of women in the process of reunification meets the absolute need of the resolution of national and reunification issues and in the realization of gender equality in a unified society.

-North Korean, South Korean, and groups of overseas Korean women will make sure that women, who make up half of this nation, fulfill their responsibilities and roles along with men in the resolution of national and reunification issues.

-North Korean, South Korean, and groups of overseas Korean women will work in

cooperation, and will join the strength and voices of women to participate equally with men in every process of reunification, so that a unified society with gender equality can be realized.

North and South Korean Women's Reunification Rally for Peace and the Implementation of the June 15th Joint Declaration.

October 17, 2002 Gumgang Mountain