When foreign ministers from 20 nations meet in Vancouver on January 16, 2018, to discuss security and stability on the Korean Peninsula, an international delegation of 16 women representing peace movements, women’s networks, faith groups, and others from Asia, Europe, and North America will also convene in that city. The group aims to encourage the politicians to include civil-society perspectives in their official talks.

The objective is to urge the ministers to prepare the table for a diplomatic peace process that moves away from war and increased militarization, and toward peace, reconciliation, and genuine security. Through the Vancouver Women’s Forum and other actions, the women delegates will remind government leaders of overwhelming global public opinion that favours a peaceful diplomatic resolution as the only option on the table for resolving the Korean crisis. The outcome of the official summit must support the recent breakthroughs in inter-Korean rapprochement, not derail it.

Patti Talbot, who leads the United Church’s Global Partnerships team (and has responsibility for United Church partnerships in northeast Asia) will be part of this international delegation, as will United Church partner Moon-Sook Lee, vice-chair of the Reconciliation and Reunification Committee of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) and an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea.

On Monday, January 15, join in a Candlelight Vigil for Peace at the Vancouver Convention Centre from 7 to 8 p.m. On the morning of Tuesday, January 16, join the delegation outside the Convention Centre in a public Witness for Peace from 8 to 9:30 a.m.