Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire Speaks at the International Womens Peace Symposium in North Korea

Dear Friends,

Good Morning (Jo-eun-achim-imnida),

I believe passionately in the power of women as peacebuilders because I have witnessed their power of nonviolent love in action. In l976 when Northern Ireland was on the brink of civil war, it was the civil community, particularly women, who marched in their thousands against the ongoing violence, and articulated a clear moral message ‘stop the violence, stop the killing, there is another way to solve our problems’.

When my sister Anne’s three children were killed in ‘the troubles’ in August, l976, their deaths, preceded as they were by thousands of violent deaths, touched the conscience of us all. Many people realized violence was wrong, life was sacred, and indeed we each had a right not to be killed and a responsibility not to kill each other. There was also an acknowledgement that violence was fueling retaliatory violence and deepening the fear and anger in the community.

Something had to break this vicious downward cycle, of killing and destruction. It was the civil community, particularly women, who by articulating ethical and moral values, and by calling on everyone including the Political Leaders and Governments, Faith and Spiritual Leaders, paramilitary groups, to take up their responsibility, unambiguously reject all violence, and begin, through dialogue to solve the problems faced by the Northern Irish people.

There was an acknowledgement by all parties, both state and non-state actors, that militarism and paramilitarism, could not solve the deeply complex, historical, ethnic, political problems, which the Northern Irish people had inherited. Indeed for every bullet fired, bomb exploded, civil and political rights curtailed, there was a violent reaction. Women, many of whom experienced at first hand horrific violence, raised their voices and mobilized to end the war. They started to make space to create the critical will of the Political leaders and paramilitaries to enter into genuine dialogue, diplomacy, compromise and co-operation. Women insisted that violent begets violence and this included violent rhetoric and a demonization of each other. They acknowledged we needed to start peacebuilding in our own hearts, homes, communities, schools, to teach peace, nonviolence and conflict resolution.

The task of building a Culture of Nonkilling and Nonviolence and changing the mindsets of militarism and war, was taken up by many people, as they embraced a new consciousness of respect for each other, diversity, and the environment.

In a divided society, such as Northern Ireland, where there was a great deal of fear and anxiety, and where identities are changing, people are often traumatized by separation, isolation, and they lack confidence and belief in themselves and each other. Therefore it is not enough to insist only on dialogue, courageous and risk-taking efforts, must be made, by both people and particularly Political Leaders, to open the paths to dialogue. In Northern Ireland in order to give people a chance to talk, and listen to each other, women/men/youth helped to set up hundreds of peace groups. They travelled across Northern Ireland, setting up exchanges, and discussing how to cross the emotional/religious/political divides and how to build a just, equal, and peaceful Northern Ireland. They also travelled across the border to the Republic of Ireland to build links, cultural exchanges, economic co-operation, etc., In the North of Ireland, Women visited the Prisoners and Families who had lost loved ones during ‘the troubles.’ Their focus was on forgiveness and reconciliation, realizing that forgiveness is the key to peace. When the Peace process was happening in N. Ireland women played a critical and decisive role at the negotiating table, insisting on all inclusive, unconditional talks and bringing difficult issues, such as demilitarization, Prisoners’ Rights, Equality, Minority rights, etc., to the Power Sharing negotiations. We have been blessed to see an end to the Northern Irish violent conflict, but acknowledge too that post conflict peacebuilding is a work in progress.

I pray this story gives hope, and helps to deepen your confidence, courage and conviction that peace is possible, indeed it is a basic human right and a concrete step to ending the suffering. In North Korea, we are conscience that you and your families have suffered so much, and I am truly sorry for this. Our delegation have come on this visit, to both North and South Korea, (and hopefully walk the DMZ) as we want to tell you, we love you, we care for you all, and we join in solidarity with you and your work to end the Korean war, unite Korean families, and bring more women into the peace process and negotiating table for a peace treaty.

When President Obama said recently in response to the opening up of diplomatic relations with USA/Cuba, ’50 years of isolation for Cuba has not worked ‘ we hope he will also say that ’70 years of isolation for North Korea has not worked, and it’s time to end the war, time for peace’. Such visionary Political Leadership would not only give hope to the Korean people as they build a nonkilling peaceful Korea, but also to the whole world that disarmament and peace is possible through diplomacy, not war.

Thank you (gamsa-hamnida)

Peace and happiness to you all (pyongwha-rul-derimnida).