School children globally depicted earnest desire for peace with their paintings, said International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG).
In a press statement Tuesday, IWPG announced the completion of preliminary rounds of the 6th International Loving-Peace Art Competition (IPLAC), which participated 23,400 school children in 130 cities across 53 countries.
As part of IWPG’s peace initiatives, the event contributed to promoting a peace culture in local communities, it said.
According to Save Children’s research there are 468 million children worldwide living in armed conflict zones, accounting for about 20% of the world’s 2.4 billion children population.
The United Nations Human Rights report shows that while thousands of children are dying in armed conflict in many parts of the world, including in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, Haiti, Sudan, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, the global figure of children killed or maimed due to conflicts in 2022 was 8,630.
Given this fact then, IWPG’s ILPAC aims “to foster talents of peace within children and enable them to express their heart for peace through paintings and practice it in their lives. Through this, children intend to instill the spirit of true peace in the hearts of the next generation and establish a culture of peace in their regions through their works,” the press stated.
Project Manager of the Department of External Affairs and ILPAC General Manager, Won Kang, remarked, “I could deeply feel the earnest desire for peace in the paintings expressed by students from around the world. This year, especially through the exhibition and various follow-up events, the competition was remembered longer. Through the ILPAC, I hope the world will continue to wish for peace and take action together.”
IWPG Chairwoman, Hyun Sook Yoon announced that the preliminary round of the ILPAC proceeded all around the world for over two months from May. In September, the final round of judging will take place, featuring the best works selected from 53 countries.