As a conscientious woman, long-time member of the Unification Church and relatively young member of the United Nations family, I am morally called upon to answer to the recent speech given in Korea, only one week after my departure from that exact same place.
From the perspective of Unification Theology, Korea is the chosen nation where the Messiah will come in our time and thus my “retreat” at Cheong Pyeong Lake in South Korea was a fascinating study of East-West relations. After volunteering to be spokesperson for a group of women who came to Korea from all over the world especially to participate in a 21 day workshop, I was confronted with different perspectives and expectations and indeed with my own limitations.
I was still on my three week retreat when I learned of the upcoming Rally to be held in Cheong Pyeong just one week after my scheduled departure for the establishment of the ‘Abel Women UN’.
Providentially speaking, it is necessary to establish the Abel Women UN in Korea.
Practically speaking, I see many issues from the perspective of a westerner and also as an international civil servant.
It seems to me that Abel Women UN does not grasp the true meaning of what the United Nations (UN) does. Suggesting that women Non-government organisations (NGOs) dominate the male dominated UN is such a contradiction in terms, it reflects a very shallow understanding of how the UN works. The UN is an arrangement of member states which agreed by convention to adhere to certain principles. The terminology United Nations refers to a massive family of organisations more or less linked together, but actually each independent of the others.
I believe that NGOs can do some good work by lobbying and grassroots ground work in member states, and even, as the Women’s Federation does, at the UN itself, but I do not see that NGOs can take over the guiding role of the United Nations itself, whether composed of men or women.
A Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations within the UN essentially governs the admittance of an organisation to the status of an NGO, so to say that the Abel Women UN should “rule over” the United Nations is a contradiction in terms already due to the circular relationship of the accreditation of NGOs through the UN itself.
“today the UN has developed into the only organization in the world with the purpose of maintaining world peace.”
“The UN has failed to prevent many wars during the past 60 years, including the Korean War. The Cold War has ended but the world still witnesses many wars of varying sizes that arise from the conflicts between rich and poor, between different races, and between different religions. The UN has failed to fulfil its original mission to maintain world peace according to its original ideal.”
I could just as well argue: God has failed to establish his heavenly kingdom. Reverend Moon has failed to save the world from sin, religions have failed.
The same as some people have accusingly asked: Why didn’t the IAEA stop Fukushima from happening?
Why doesn’t the UN stop the killing in Syria?
“The UN has not been able to advance beyond the level of balancing the various interests of each nation. That is why we urge today that the new system of women’s peace movement centring on NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) must replace the current male-centred system of GOs (Governmental Organizations) in order to overcome its limitation and to finally usher in the settlement of world peace.”
Since such a women’s peace movement can only be realized through the global cooperation which goes beyond the level of NGO, the establishment of ‘Abel Women UN’ is necessary.
This does not explain or address the new UN Women which was founded January 1st 2011.
The statement:
“we must wage the movement to realize the True Love of ‘living for the sake of others’ in every part of society so that we may realize world peace.”
…is typical of statements we often hear from our founders in Korea and other eastern members and leaders. For myself as an Australian and considering myself as a westerner, I believe this type of language is problematic, not only to me as a westerner, but also as an international civil servant.
“The contribution by speakers representing UN organizations of their expertise in a number of relevant fields, combined with the active participation of a number of UN ambassadors, counsellors and international NGO representatives, led me to feel that such meetings have the potential to offer real solutions to the healing of our world if the conclusions reached can be acted upon.”
This quotation rings true in my heart as since the beginnings of my NGO activities representing the Women’s Federation at the United Nations in Vienna, I felt exactly the same way: if the conclusions reached can be acted upon.
The issue is still as always has been to act upon the resolutions moved, to adhere to the treaties, to get signatories to the agreement, to ratify the treaty.
To state that:
“However, ‘Women’s Federation’ now must advance even further. It must go beyond the next step, to walk the path of the creation of a peaceful world through joining forces together with other NGOs and women leaders of the world. The establishment of the ‘Abel Women UN’, which will go beyond the level of women NGOs and bring governments around the world together, is absolutely necessary, and it is also the command of God which must be obeyed.
Even the newly established UN Women has a way to go.
“I make a solemn declaration for the establishment of ‘Abel Women UN’ which will help all women around the world to realize this historical mission, and expand the scope of women’s movements to the entire world
To proclaim:
Beloved women peace leaders!
In today’s world, where must humanity go? The problems that humanity faces today can only be resolved through the ideals of True Love centring on God, and the ideal of ‘One Family Under God’ which Rev. Moon and I, as True Parents, have been teaching all our lives from the moment we received the teaching from heaven. For this ideal alone is the only path that will lead humanity to the world of everlasting peace and happiness
…at the UN which was founded beyond religion or denomination seems inappropriate to me. Even though I am a dedicated member of this religious movement, as an international civil servant, I am obliged to act impartially representing only the community of nations and not my nation of origin. I am obliged to act in the interests of all humankind and not of one particular interest group.
To proclaim that:
humanity must now humbly obey the command of heaven.
…may all be very well at the church pulpit and in a dedicated rally for the inauguration of a special interest group.
At the United Nations it is inappropriate to use the language of religion and politics which divides and alienates.
As much as I subscribe to the concept that we are living in the last days and the spirit world is coming down and everything will be different after ‘D-day’, it is inappropriate for me as an international civil servant to impose my faith and beliefs on my colleagues or even indeed to actively solicit support for such concepts insofar as
men and women do not need to confront or contend with each other, for they do not need to imitate the characteristics, dispositions or roles of the other or to covet those things and take them by force. Instead, by giving what they have to the other with true love and completing the other, they can become united as a greater whole and share in one another. In the 21st century, women should play a major role in world history by serving as one of the wheels of the engine pulling forward the construction of a peaceful world together with men. Going beyond a century of power and technology, women will be the central axis in building the century of love and the peace culture, and their role will be more important than ever before.
This statement addresses the ideal of the unification movement of true families under God and addresses the concept from the point of view of women in partnership with men, on a one to one basis, in an exclusive relationship as one significant other. The language used here is not to be confused with political or medial terminology, but must be seen in context of the Unification principles as taught by Reverend and Mrs Sun Myung Moon.
I sincerely ask you to walk the path of a True Mother, the path of a True Wife, the path of a True Daughter, and the path of a True Women Leader who will build the unified world where freedom, peace, and happiness in its truest sense overflows.
Let us all walk the path of the true mother, true wife, true daughter and true woman leader, who can construct a unified world overflowing with true freedom, peace and happiness.
This is obviously addressed to women unificationists. However I propose a new thrust to re-educate men and women, to address the principle of coexistence, co-prosperity and common cause amongst men and women united in loving families and cooperating on all levels of government and intergovernmental and nongovernmental leadership and activity.
My work at the International Atomic Energy Agency in the Office of Nuclear Security has led me to understand the nature of international cooperation based on convictions of significant premises and global partnership.
Just as individual member states voluntarily commit to the Nuclear Security Fund to finance training, education, policy, prevention, detection and response to malicious acts involving nuclear or radioactive material, so I envisage an international body, comparable to the IAEA offering guidance, education and training in the principles of peace building based on stable family relationships, on healthy respect of men for women and women for men, on principles of equality and dignity.
1. Pdf biography: As a peace loving global citizen, Reverend Sun Myung Moon: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZXVyb3BlYW5vZmZpY2UubmV0fHVjLWV1cm9wZXxneDo3ODU0ZjFkMDkwODAxODFk
2. Speech at Abel UN Women Rally:
http://uc-europe.europeanoffice.net/reports-1/wfwp-270503160712