외교부

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.

It is a great honor to welcome all of you from academia, international organizations, governments and civil society, and I would also like to extend my gratitude to the women peacebuilders and young leaders who are with us. I also thank the organizers for making this conference possible.

This year holds special significance as we mark the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. “Priorities and Innovation for the Future” is the theme that we pursue. We recognize the progress that has been achieved, but at the same time we also understand how much more should have been done.

Over the past quarter century, more than 100 countries, including the Republic of Korea, have adopted National Action Plans, and women are increasingly participating in peace processes, peace operations, and humanitarian action. Yet, meaningful representation, resourcing, and protection are still insufficient. Conflict-related sexual violence still continues, women’s organizations face shrinking civic space and funding resources, which is under constraints, and evolving technologies are shaping the conflict in a different way.

The Republic of Korea has sought to be an active partner in advancing the WPS agenda. We have worked to expand women’s participation in peace operations, support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and strengthen international cooperation, including through this annual conference since 2019. During our recent term on the Security Council, we promoted the consistent integration of WPS across the Council’s agenda.

Last year, we launched the Action with Women and Peace Fund to support efforts that protect women in conflict-affected areas and promote their full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in peace processes, including in Sudan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.

This year’s conference highlights innovation as a driving force for the next generation of WPS implementation. Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, can serve as tools for peace and inclusion — but they can also deepen inequalities and reinforce harmful biases. It is essential that women are not only protected in this digital landscape, but actively shape it as leaders and innovators in their own communities.

The future of the WPS agenda also depends on young people. Around the world, youth are calling for peace that is inclusive, just, and sustainable. Their leadership must be recognized and supported.

Ladies and gentlemen,

For seven years, this conference has served as a vital platform for dialogue, partnership, and collective action. As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325, we must renew our shared commitment and ensure that the path ahead builds on lessons learned while embracing new possibilities.

Let us listen more carefully to the voices of women and youth. Let us support their leadership and innovation. And let us work together to ensure that the next 25 years bring us closer to a world where peace is truly sustainable.

I hope today’s discussions inspire fresh ideas and new collaborations that move the Women, Peace and Security agenda forward.

Thank you.