Support Our Gathering in Seoul, Korea

We are living in an increasingly militarized world where “shooting to kill” is the operating principle and governments worldwide are raising their military budgets to finance wars and preparations for wars.  “Over 100 countries around the world raised their military spending in 2024. As governments increasingly prioritize military security, often at the expense of other budget areas, the economic and social trade-offs could have significant effects on societies for years to come,” according to the April 2025 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

 Still, we are hopeful. Feminist activists around the world are learning together to understand better this moment, to review and re-think our usual ways of creating change, and from examples of successful change work under way, like how Korean feminist activists led their recent successful campaign to impeach the President.

Women for Genuine Security, the US member group of the International Women’s Network Against Militarism, is among those. We'll be meeting our feminist partners from Guam, Hawai’i, Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Palau, and Philippines in Seoul from 21-25 May 2025 to strategize collectively to face what is in front of us. Most especially, we are focusing on ending militarized gender and sexual violence.

WGS is a 100% volunteer-based group comprising students, teachers, faith leaders, language interpreters, organizers, policymakers, writers, and parents. We have worked with our Network partners to develop a shared feminist analysis of militarism and coordinated organizing against the harmful effects of U.S. bases, military budgets, and military operations since 1997. Working together has enabled us to share experiences, information, and effective organizing strategies. We are currently committed to working in 4 languages because interpretation/translation is a crucial component of our political work. Through this translocal organizing we call for an end to all forms of violence and for economic development based on real peoples' needs. 

We need your help so that 5 of us can get to the Korea meeting! Please donate what you can and share this request with your networks. 

Thank you for all your ongoing support!