UN CSW70 Forum: Fo Guang Members Stand at the Frontline for Peace

The 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) was held in New York from March 9 to 20. On March 17, representatives of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) attended a forum on women’s peace leadership, joining experts from multiple countries to discuss the critical role of women in situations of conflict and disaster, and to advocate for cross-sector collaboration that brings religious perspectives into efforts toward gender equality and humanitarian care.

On March 17, Venerable You Hong of the Fo Guang Shan New York Temple, Zhang Hui from the BLIA New York Chapter Secretariat, and Chen Pei Rong, a Sumati Lecturer of the BLIA-YAD World Headquarters, attended the forum titled “Women as Peace Leaders: Building Resilience and Transformative Leadership.” The discussion explored how, amid war, disasters, and humanitarian crises, women are transforming from traditional roles as “victims” into active agents of peace, playing key leadership roles in community rebuilding.

The forum was jointly organized by the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), the International Network of Liberal Women (INLW), and the Turkish Green Crescent Society (TGCS). It focused on the evolving roles of women in contexts of armed conflict, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises, emphasizing that women are no longer merely passive recipients of aid, but are key leaders in driving community reconstruction and peacebuilding.

Chongnam Choi, Secretary-General of IWPG, stated that women are central forces in advancing peace transformation, rather than passive beneficiaries of relief efforts.

Dr. Khadija El Morabit, President of INLW, drew on examples from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Sudan to illustrate how war impacts women’s access to education. She stressed that resilience should not be understood merely as endurance, but must be supported by systematic investment, emphasizing that “there can be no true peace without women’s participation.”

Ambassador Güllüoğlu, Vice President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, highlighted that displacement and social instability significantly increase risks of addiction and psychological trauma among women. She called for the development of gender-sensitive psychological support systems within international humanitarian frameworks, providing more comprehensive and long-term care.

Following the forum, Zhang Hui engaged in an in-depth exchange with Ainsley Cobb, a representative from the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. Zhang noted that women’s rights movements cannot be fully realized without male support, particularly within male-dominated social structures. She suggested using data-driven approaches to demonstrate the positive impact of men’s participation in women’s and children’s education and rights advocacy, in order to broaden societal support. This perspective was well received and is expected to inform future research.

Zhang further introduced BLIA’s long-standing commitment, guided by Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s principle of “equality for all beings,” to areas such as environmental protection, disaster relief, and spiritual care, contributing to humanitarian causes and support for vulnerable populations. She also warmly invited Ainsley and her research team to visit the Fo Guang Shan New York Temple, expressing hope that cross-sector collaboration between religion and academia can bring greater compassion and wisdom to advancing global gender equality and social justice.