The Europe, Middle East and Africa Assembly Held 

‘2022 Europe, the Middle and Africa Assembly’s Conference for Women’

The Europe, the Middle and Africa Assembly’s Conference for Women hosted by the Europe, Middle East and Africa Assembly (hereinafter the Assembly) and organized by the Central and Eastern Europe Chapter was held for 3 days from May 6-8 at the NH Danube City Hotel in Vienna, Austria. 

Members of the Central and Eastern European Chapter welcomed attendees at the airport and drove them to the hotel. Eighty-five attendees, who were assigned accommodation, participated in an orientation session that started at 6pm to share information about upcoming events.

They then moved to a welcome banquet prepared by Kim Jeom-bae, vice-chair of the Assembly and enjoyed a hearty dinner. At the Vienna Korean Cultural Center, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, they also had a time of friendship over a Korean meal prepared by Park Jong-beom, former vice-chair of the Assembly. 

The opening ceremony for the conference was held at 9 am on the 7th. Conducted offline and online through Zoom video conferencing, the conference was moderated by Hong Soo-yeon, the chief of the Southern Europe Chapter’s Women’s Standing Committee. Following the pledge of allegiance and the introduction of guests, Kim Jeom-bae, vice-chair of the Assembly, gave an opening address.

in his welcome speech, Jung Jong-wan, chief of the Central and Eastern Europe Chapter, said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the council members who have come from afar and welcome women council members who are the source of healing and regeneration as a mother is. I will do my best to make sure that the event will become a meaningful time for them without any inconvenience.”

The keynote speech was given by Ambassador Shin Jae-hyun to Austria about the topic of ‘the Korean Peninsula and the World’s Peace, Safety, and Prosperity and the Roles of the PUAC in the Context.’ 

Earlier in his congratulatory speech, Ambassador Shin Jae-hyun also said, “In order to encourage future leaders to be better aware of their great responsibilities for peace and prosperity and play their roles properly, the central role of women council members is critical in not only their families and communities of Korean compatriots but also mainstream societies of the countries they live in. My best wishes for the success of the event.”

Then, at a cultural event organized by the Central and Eastern European Chapter, soprano Moon Hyeon-joo, baritone Park Sung-chan, and pianist Baek Eun-hyeon Baek presented a moving wonderful stage befitting Vienna, the city of music.

Lectures followed by Dr. Doo Jin-yong of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the topic of ‘The IAEA’s Nuclear Inspection Activities and North Korea’ and Lee Jeong-hee, president of the North Korean Defectors Federation in the UK on the topic of ‘the March of Hardship in North Korea, defection, and North Korean defectors who have settled in the UK.’ 

In the afternoon, Lee Mi-kyung, vice chairwoman, delivered a lecture online on the topic of ‘the Roles of Women Council Members for a Peaceful Korean Peninsula’ as the last speaker of the conference, 

Then a three-group discussion was held for about two hours while the Assembly’s steering session was held at the same time. 

The results of the heated group discussion were announced. Each chapter in the region hosted a K-Party including a simple quiz contest on the same day with the same theme. Voting by all conference participants determined that the first prize should go to Group 2 (leader Jeong Hee-kyung, presenter Jeong Kyung-seon) that presented the idea of ​​a quiz contest featuring Korean sweets as a prize to dissipate the reality of the division between the two Koreas in a pleasant and easy manner. The group also presented a splendid performance.  Vice-chair Kim Jeom-bae delivered the money raised for the North Korean refugee children held on that day to Chairperson Lee Jung-hee as development funds for ‘Hangyeore School.’  

Next, a lecture by Lee Yun-jeong, chair of the Academic Subcommittee of the UK Chapter, and a gayageum performance by council member Park Jin-seon of Northern Europe Chapter followed. 

In his concluding remarks, vice-chair Kim Jeom-bae said, “The conference was a valuable time to talk about hopes for healing the pain of inter-Korean history and working together. Only when we stop discriminating others will we not be subjected to discrimination ourselves. I hope that women around the world will continue to work together on an equal footing and play a major role in realizing peace and prosperity worldwide.”

Finally, all participants held hands and sang the ‘Unification Song’ praying for peaceful unification and promising to meet again.